Credit: Pete Kiehart via Bloomberg.
“I wouldn’t say that we were that great for managing to increase ammunition production in three months. We produced so little in 2022," Kamyshin said.Ukraine does its best to establish its own arms and ammunition production so that it is not so dependent on military support from allies that much. Over time, the Minister for Ukraine's Strategic Industries aims to make Ukraine a major arms exporter again.
"We have to be ambitious because we have no choice. My goal is to make Ukraine the arsenal of the free world," Kamyshin said.According to Bloomberg, Ukrainian ammunition production is now increasing, albeit from a low base. Ukraine began to produce more Ukrainian anti-tank systems Stugna-P. The next priority (within three or six months) is to increase the production of tanks and armored vehicles, Kamyshin told Bloomberg.
Before working as Minister for Strategic Industries, Oleksandr Kamyshin worked effectively as the head of Ukraine’s railroads (Ukrzaliznytsia state-run company), helping to keep the railroads running despite constant Russian air strikes and power cuts. The Ukrzaliznytsia trains transported thousands of Ukrainian refugees away from the war zone and Ukrainian troops and supplies toward the front line.
On 21 March 2023, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named 39-year-old Oleksandr Kamyshin the Minister for Strategic Industries, including defense.
Related:- How much ammunition can Ukraine produce and its war impact
- Goodbye Ukroboronprom, hello Ukrainian Defense Industry
- German armsmaker Rheinmetall sets up joint venture with Ukraine to repair and build tanks
- Ukraine and Czech Republic to start joint production of small arms and ammunition
