Shmyhal promises six-fold increase in military production in Ukraine

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has announced that the government intends to increase military production in the country sixfold by 2024.

According to the head of government, in 2023, the production capacity of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex tripled, and this year it is expected to grow sixfold.

"This means more drones, more shells, more ammunition and armored vehicles for our military," Shmyhal wrote in a telegram.

During the government meeting, the prime minister also said that this year Kyiv needs about $37 billion in financial support from Western countries.

Earlier, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov promised that this year his department would purchase 1 million small drones and order as much Ukrainian-made ammunition and weapons as possible.

The Ukrainian budget for 2024 provides for defense spending of UAH 1.68 trillion, which is UAH 113 billion more than last year.

Ukraine also receives significant amounts of military and financial assistance from Western countries. According to Shmyhal, in 2023, Western allies provided Kyiv with $42.6 billion in aid, with 27% of this amount sent in the form of grants.

Meanwhile, it was reported that in 2023, Russia doubled the volume of the state defense order, and for "a number of items" the volume of production and supply increased 10-12 times. As reported by Reuters, the Russian military budget for 2024 was approved at a record 10.78 trillion rubles ($109 billion), which is about a third of the country's total budget expenditures.