Ukraine Establishes Office to Guide Defense Manufacturers into International Markets
The Ukrainian Defense Manufacturers’ Council is launching an Export Support Office designed to strengthen the presence of Ukrainian defense technologies on international markets.
The Gaze reports on this, referring to Militarnyi.
On 10 December, the Council presented the concept of the new Office that will function as an internal support platform for defense producers. It will be headed by Oleksandr Pavlichenko, an expert in international arms transfers and export control, and former head of the State Service for Export Control of Ukraine.
The Office is expected to focus on three main areas: consulting companies on export procedures, contributing to regulatory improvements, and analyzing real export cases to create practical training materials.
During the presentation at the event “Among Armorers: Defense Exports 2026,” Acting Head of the State Export Control Service, Oleh Tsilvik, emphasized that the restoration of controlled defense exports must comply with strict national security standards.
“State Export Control is open to dialogue and ready to work with partners to ensure that these procedures are clear and predictable,” Tsilvik added.
The first product of the new Office is the Export Map — a practical roadmap for Ukrainian defense companies. Its purpose is to help manufacturers enter foreign markets, and it will be continuously updated to reflect changes in regulations and international demand.
The document is based on open sources and real procedures and will be regularly revised to stay aligned with evolving requirements and partner expectations.
It outlines two main pathways for entering global markets: Build with Ukraine, which focuses on joint production with foreign partners, and Buy from Ukraine, which concerns direct export of Ukrainian products. Both routes are broken down into step-by-step instructions, from initial preparation to obtaining all necessary permits.
The recently created Export Map is intended to become a practical tool for companies just beginning to explore export opportunities or planning to scale their international presence. However, actual export contracts are expected no earlier than the second half of 2026, as manufacturers need to complete testing, certification, and all regulatory approvals.
As noted by the Executive Director of the Ukrainian Defense Manufacturers’ Council, Ihor Fedirko, the creation of the Export Map is only the starting point of systemic support for the export ambitions of Ukraine’s defense industry, aimed at helping manufacturers confidently move toward global engagement.
As The Gaze previously reported, on September 20 Ukraine announced the beginning a controlled export program for domestically produced weapons next month, allowing the country to sell surplus systems and reinvest the proceeds into priority capabilities such as FPV drones, interceptors, precision munitions, and long-range strike weapons.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the initiative will operate under strict oversight in coordination with Western partners, as Ukraine simultaneously expands domestic production and scales drone output to 1,000 interceptor drones per day.
Read more on The Gaze: Ukraine's Missile Program 2025: What Already Exists, What Is Maturing to Series Production, and Where the Export Potential Lies After the War