Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that nearly 60% of the weapons used by Ukrainian forces on the front line are now domestically produced, marking a major milestone in the country’s defense industry amid its ongoing war with Russia.

“During this war, Ukraine has already reached the level where nearly 60% of the weapons we have, weapons in the hands of our warriors, are Ukrainian-made, and they are strong weapons, many of them cutting-edge,” Zelensky said in an address late Saturday.

The development comes as Ukrainian defense company Fire Point revealed on September 4 that it has developed two new ballistic missiles and upgraded air defense systems, only weeks after the firm’s Flamingo cruise missile entered serial production.

Ukraine has rapidly expanded its defense industry since Russia’s full-scale invasion, with recent initiatives including the launch of a joint drone production line in Denmark. To further boost self-reliance, the country’s 2025 budget allocates Hr 55 billion ($1.3 billion) toward domestic defense manufacturing.

Zelensky stressed that Kyiv’s next challenge lies in scaling up air defense production, including systems developed in partnership with foreign allies. Despite growing self-sufficiency, Ukraine continues to push Western partners—particularly the United States—for advanced systems such as Patriot missiles.

On July 14, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed a new NATO-backed agreement allowing European nations to purchase American weapons for Ukraine through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). Zelensky said Ukraine is working to secure fresh contributions from partners to the PURL mechanism, which will remain a priority in the coming weeks.

Earlier this year, Zelensky noted that 40% of weapons at the front line were Ukrainian-made—a figure that has now risen to 60%, signaling significant progress in local arms production.