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Ukraine is strengthening its defense-industrial base and requires expanded international support in three critical areas — air defense, drone and missile production, and long-range artillery ammunition — to improve its position and help secure a just peace, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
Speaking at the Land Warfare Conference attended by NATO military officials, government representatives and defense technology industry leaders, Fedorov outlined Ukraine’s most urgent defense priorities, UATV English reports.
“Ukraine, together with its partners, is strengthening its defense capabilities. At the same time, to achieve a just peace, it is important to scale up support in key areas: air defense, drone and missile production, and the supply of long-range artillery ammunition,” he said.
Fedorov thanked the Royal United Services Institute for its cooperation and the United Kingdom for its continued support of Ukraine.
According to the minister, Ukraine is steadily improving its ability to counter aerial threats, including through the development of a so-called “small air defense” network designed to intercept drones and other low-cost threats.
On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are increasing strikes against Russian logistics and targeting assets that support Russia’s wartime economy.
Drones continue to play a decisive role in combat operations. Fedorov noted that Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces are now responsible for destroying roughly one-quarter of all enemy targets along the front line. Ukraine is also working to stay ahead of Russia in every technological cycle by scaling up effective drone units, expanding its performance-based “eBaly” incentive system, and introducing new innovations.
The defense minister highlighted three areas where additional support is urgently needed.
The first is air defense. Ukraine requires additional missiles for Patriot systems, particularly PAC-3 interceptors. Fedorov emphasized the importance of continued support through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism.
He identified Russian ballistic missiles and guided aerial bombs as Ukraine’s two main air-defense challenges.
“Together with our partners, we are working to deprive Russia of this advantage,” he said.
The second priority is expanding the production of Ukrainian-made drones and missiles. Fedorov said 2026 is expected to be a record year for drone manufacturing, but production could increase even further with additional funding. He also announced that Ukraine will soon begin exporting some of its defense technologies to strategic partners for the first time.
The third priority is long-range artillery ammunition. Ukraine needs shells capable of striking targets at distances of at least 30 kilometers, he said.
Fedorov argued that faster and larger-scale support in these areas would strengthen Ukraine’s battlefield position and help bring a just peace closer.
The minister also outlined the first stage of reforms to Ukraine’s military service system, including a transition to a new contract model with clearer service terms, simplified transfer procedures, and enhanced financial incentives for infantry and assault units.
His remarks come as Western defense experts continue to stress the importance of sustained military assistance to Ukraine. Earlier, Rachel Ellehuus, head of the Royal United Services Institute, said Ukraine needs reliable security guarantees and warned that NATO and the European Union have been too slow in providing them.
