{"id":8038,"date":"2025-07-28T18:23:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T15:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/?p=8038"},"modified":"2025-11-18T23:20:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T21:20:20","slug":"dorozvidka-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.thedefender.media\/en\/2025\/07\/dorozvidka-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Dorozvidka #18: Interviews with Darkstar and General Chereshnya, all about the Bulava, and news from the MoD and Bell Helicopters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last week saw structural changes in the Cabinet of Ministers and significant personnel reshuffles at the Ministry of Defence. Ukrainian media published compelling interviews with Ragnar Sass, co-founder of the venture fund Darkstar, and Yaroslav Hryshyn, co-founder of drone manufacturer General Chereshnya. Meanwhile, the media project \u201cDonbas Realities\u201d released an in-depth feature on Ukraine\u2019s loitering munition \u201cBulava\u201d, developed by the company DeViRo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited a drone interceptor production facility and shared his expectations with manufacturers. The Minister of Economy also announced the entry of the US company Bell Helicopters into the Ukrainian market. Full details in Dorozvidka #18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights from Ragnar Sass\u2019s interview<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ragnar Sass, co-founder of the Darkstar fund, gave an in-depth interview<\/a> to the DOU portal. Darkstar recently announced<\/a> plans to invest \u20ac25 million in defence tech start-ups. The fund\u2019s portfolio already includes two Ukrainian companies \u2013 Farsight Vision and Deftak. Sass said the fund plans to close deals with at least five more projects by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter a year and a half of market analysis, I\u2019ve concluded that the most promising companies \u2013 those with real, battle-tested products and the best teams \u2013 come from Ukraine. Especially in the fields of drones, communications, and EW tools,\u201d said the investor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Man
Ragnar Sass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to him, Ukraine has the potential to produce at least four or five defence tech unicorns in the next 5\u201310 years. Sass believes at least one or two of those will be in Darkstar\u2019s portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also discussed the role of IT in Ukrainian and European defence tech, the importance of arms exports, and why European companies are opening offices in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Points from the interview with General Chereshnya’s co-founder, Yaroslav Hryshyn<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Ukrainian FPV drone manufacturer General Chereshnya earned UAH 1.5 billion in revenue in the first half of 2025, according to co-founder Yaroslav Hryshyn in an interview<\/a> with Forbes. That\u2019s twice as much as the company earned in all of 2024. He attributes the growth to a rise in government contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Chereshnya expects to reach UAH 7 billion in revenue by the end of 2025. The company currently produces 50,000 drones per month and is working on developing a drone capable of intercepting Shahed UAVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Warehouse
General Chereshnya’s drones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hryshyn discussed how the company is scaling, why it needs investment, and whether it is ready for M&A. He also responded to allegations made against the company in a July episode of the investigative programme \u201cNashi Groshi\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything about Ukraine\u2019s Bulava middle-strike drone<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Radio Liberty\u2019s \u201cDonbas Realities\u201d project published an in-depth article<\/a> on Bulava, Ukraine\u2019s analogue to the Russian Lancet, developed by DeViRo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The article explores why Ukraine took so long to develop its own middle-strike drone, what makes Bulava unique, and what it needs to truly become a game-changer on the battlefield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The piece includes comments from \u201cSerzh Marko\u201d (Oleksandr Karpiuk), a serviceman with the UAV battalion of the 59th Assault Brigade under the Ukrainian Defence Forces\u2019 UAV Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Bulava middle strike drone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Karpiuk\u2019s crews tested a prototype of the Bulava in spring 2025. He sees its most significant advantage in the large warhead, which allows it to target tanks. He also highlights its advanced target acquisition system, which enables strikes on well-camouflaged enemy equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Bell Helicopters plans to manufacture in Ukraine<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

US-based Bell Helicopters plans to invest in the Ukrainian industry and launch helicopter production within Ukraine, announced<\/a> Minister of Economy Oleksii Sobolev. He noted that the government is prepared to support the initiative through investment attraction tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bell Helicopters manufactures civil and military helicopters and unmanned aerial systems. In Ukraine, it is expected to focus primarily on defence-related products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zelensky on drone interceptors<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On 25 July, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had visited a facility producing interceptors for Shahed drones. \u201cThe task set for manufacturers is clear \u2013 Ukraine must be capable of deploying at least 1,000 interceptors daily,\u201d he said. The President added that the government is ensuring drone contracts and working with partners to prevent funding shortages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zelensky noted that four companies are currently producing interceptors, with more to follow: \u201cThere will be at least ten manufacturers,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said that $6 billion is needed for drone interceptor production alone. In total, $25 billion should be allocated annually to produce missiles, various drones, and EW systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personnel and structural changes at the Ministry of Defence<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Last week, key organisational changes took place in the Ukrainian government. On 21 July, the Cabinet dissolved the Ministry for Strategic Industries and transferred its functions to the Ministry of Defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal also appointed<\/a> six deputy ministers. The First Deputy Minister is now Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, who held the same role until April 2025. The new deputies include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n