The facility aims to get British SMEs helping the Ukrainian armed forces
A new British business centre is to open in Kyiv later this year to help UK defence firms support Ukraine’s armed forces in their fight against Russia’s invasion, the Government has said.
Backed by three years of UK funding, the facility is designed to help British companies, including small and medium-sized businesses, operate in Ukraine and provide vital equipment while opening new markets and supporting jobs in the UK.
Ministers said security, insurance, travel restrictions and a lack of suitable premises have made it difficult for smaller firms to work in Ukraine.
The new centre aims to remove some of those barriers so British industry of all sizes can contribute to Ukraine’s defence effort.
Defence Secretary John Healey said an armed force was “only as strong as the industry that stands behind them.”
He said the hub would ensure British companies, “no matter how small,” can help Ukraine now and in securing peace in the future.
The project would also bring the UK and Ukrainian defence sectors closer while embedding lessons learned from the battlefield, he said.
British-built Octopus interceptor drones
UK and Ukrainian partners are already working together on new technology, with production of British-built Octopus interceptor drones due to begin this month.
The drones are designed to target Russian Shahed systems and other weapons at a lower cost, with thousands expected to be produced every month.
Part of a wider £4.5bn support package for Ukraine
The work builds on a £600 million UK investment in Ukraine’s air defence this year -part of a wider £4.5 billion military support package.
The centre, led by the Ministry of Defence’s National Armaments Director Group, marks the first anniversary of the UK-Ukraine 100-Year Partnership and follows the Defence Industrial Strategy published last year.
National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said economic strength and national security were inseparable, and that the hub would help British firms partner with Ukraine and deliver urgent defence solutions.
Based in secure facilities in Kyiv, the centre will offer an export and matching service, providing companies with information on Ukraine’s needs and the latest battlefield data so innovation can keep pace with the conflict.
