Ukrainian arms manufacturers receive first wartime export licenses

Ukrainian arms manufacturers have received their first wartime licenses to export their products abroad, the secretary of Kiev's National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, announced on Thursday.

Kiev recently made the politically sensitive decision to export weapons while it is fighting Russia, as it seeks to have funds to expand its domestic defense industry, and also tries to use its innovative weapons as a diplomatic tool to strengthen alliances.

In a statement on social media, Umerov did not specify how many companies had received licenses, but said that Ukraine's annual production capacity in this sector exceeds $55 billion. 

Umerov said that the inter-agency government commission that approves arms exports has already held its first meeting in eight months.

Since Russia's attack in February 2022, the defense sector in Ukraine has experienced tremendous growth and now includes more than 1,000 companies, most of them new ventures in the private sector.