A logistics general takes over Ukraine’s state arms group, and the company is counting on him to make it build more

Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, a former army logistics head and ex-first deputy defense minister, has been appointed as the new head of Ukraine’s state defense-industrial group, Ukroboronprom. He was selected from a pool of candidates in an open contest and assumes the role from a temporary replacement appointed since the previous chief resigned in July.

Ukraine’s arms industry has been expanding rapidly, with production capacity increasing from around $1 billion per year at the beginning of the full-scale invasion to $35 billion. However, only a third of that output was covered by domestic contracts last year, leaving factories underutilized. To fund production, Kyiv is relying on controlled exports of surplus weapons, and most growth has been directed towards private firms.

Ukraine's state-owned factories now face the challenge of increasing output while operating with limited funds under the threat of Russian attacks. Havryliuk, who was chosen through a competitive selection process, aims to address these challenges by leveraging his expertise and understanding of Ukraine’s Defense Forces needs. His appointment is seen as a significant step in transforming Ukroboronprom into a modern, competitive defense company.