10/2/2025 — With no guarantee of U.S. weapons, Ukraine races to make its own

A Ukrainian man displays a military drone known as the Mini Shark at an arms conference in Lviv, Ukraine, on Aug. 28. The event highlighted Ukraine’s rapidly growing weapons industry, and was held in an underground parking garage so it could not be interrupted by one of Russia’s frequent airstrikes.

LVIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s emerging arms industry is on display at an odd place here — an underground parking garage, beneath a gleaming new office building known as Lviv Tech City.

Conference organizers chose this secure space so the event couldn’t be disrupted by one of Russia’s frequent airstrikes.

“We’re a Ukrainian company. We’re building drones, all different kinds of drones,” said Maksym Yakovlev, who works with FRDM Group, one of many firms making military drones.

Many Ukrainian drones cost $1,000 or less and are only used once. They simply fly into a Russian target and explode. The one on display here is a high-end model, the R-34-T. It has six propellers, carries 30 pounds of weaponry, and can be reused. They are sold in pairs, with the equipment to support them, for a little under $70,000.

“It’s a heavy drone which flies in, carries grenades and explosives, drops them on the target, and comes back,” said Yakovlev.

Ukrainian troops operate drones near the front lines in eastern Ukraine, on Sept. 10. The country has dramatically ramped up drone production and is expected to make more than 4 million this year. The weapons often strikes deep inside Russia, damaging oil refineries that are critical to that country’s economy and war effort. Alex Babenko/AP

An industry born of necessity

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s arsenal consisted largely of aging hardware dating back decades to when Russia and Ukraine were both part of the Soviet Union.

Voice of Ukraine