German defence company Rheinmetall issued a public statement expressing respect for Ukraine’s defence manufacturers after its CEO mocked Ukrainian weapons and drone producers over the weekend in sexist remarks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded sharply to remarks by Germany’s Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, who dismissed Ukraine’s drone industry as “housewives with 3-D printers in the kitchen.”
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“If every housewife in Ukraine really can produce drones, then every housewife could be the CEO of Rheinmetall,” Zelenskyy said, praising Ukraine’s defence industry for reaching “this high standard.”
Papperger, in an interview with The Atlantic, described Ukraine’s weapons production as unremarkable, likening it to “playing with Legos.”
His comments triggered widespread backlash in Kyiv.
Rheinmetall later issued a statement expressing “utmost respect” for Ukraine’s defence sector, highlighting the “innovative strength and fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people,” though it did not apologise for the CEO’s remarks.
Zelenskyy told journalists via WhatsApp that Ukraine competes “not with rhetoric, but with technology and results,” pointing to successes on land, in the air and at sea.
He added that Ukraine’s defence industry “will take, and is already taking, its place in the world.”
Alexander Kamyshin said Ukrainian drones have destroyed more than 11,000 Russian tanks. Officials and social media users responded with hashtags like #LegoDrones and #MadeByHousewives.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called Papperger’s remarks sexist, saying: “Europe’s defence is powered by Ukrainian ‘housewives’. Ukrainian women are an essential part of Ukraine’s war effort and Europe’s security. They have stepped into roles once seen as male-dominated, bringing energy, discipline and determination.”
The statement was echoed by the head of Ukraine's Mission to NATO Alyona Getmanchuk.
Over 70,000 women serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with nearly 20,000 in combat roles. Many of them work as drone operators and developers.
Kyiv officials say women-drones operators took part in last year’s “Spiderweb” operation, in which more than 100 Ukrainian drones struck air bases deep inside Russia, targeting nuclear-capable long-range bombers.
Germany’s Rheinmetall, one of Europe’s largest arms manufacturers, has become a major supplier to Ukraine, providing tanks, 155mm artillery, mortar shells and surveillance drones.
The company’s chief executive officer, Armin Papperger, sparked controversy with comments dismissing Ukraine’s drone industry as “housewives with 3-D printers in the kitchen,” coming as Volodymyr Zelenskyy was touring the Gulf and signing defence agreements.
These deals include cooperation on missile and drone threats, with Ukrainian specialists deployed to several countries to assist with air defence and drone interception systems.
Papperger’s remarks have also sparked wider debate on defence innovation. Four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, drones are estimated to cause around 80% of combat casualties on both sides.
Germany and Ukraine have launched a joint venture between Germany’s Quantum Systems and Ukraine’s Frontline Robotics.
The facility, expected to produce up to 10,000 drones within a year, is the first Ukrainian drone production line in Germany and forms part of Kyiv’s effort to expand arms manufacturing in Europe amid rising demand for unmanned systems.
Ukrainian companies now produce around four million drones of various types each year.