'Every housewife could be CEO of Rheinmetall': Zelenskyy hits back at German weapons boss
German defence company Rheinmetall issued a public statement expressing respect for Ukraine’s defence manufacturers after its CEO mocked Ukrainian weapons and drone producers over the weekend in sexist remarks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded sharply to remarks by Germany’s Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, who dismissed Ukraine’s drone industry as “housewives with 3-D printers in the kitchen.”
“If every housewife in Ukraine really can produce drones, then every housewife could be the CEO of Rheinmetall,” Zelenskyy said, praising Ukraine’s defence industry for reaching “this high standard.”
Papperger, in an interview with The Atlantic, described Ukraine’s weapons production as unremarkable, likening it to “playing with Legos.”
His comments triggered widespread backlash in Kyiv.
Rheinmetall later issued a statement expressing “utmost respect” for Ukraine’s defence sector, highlighting the “innovative strength and fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people,” though it did not apologise for the CEO’s remarks.
Zelenskyy told journalists via WhatsApp that Ukraine competes “not with rhetoric, but with technology and results,” pointing to successes on land, in the air and at sea.
He added that Ukraine’s defence industry “will take, and is already taking, its place in the world.”
Alexander Kamyshin said Ukrainian drones have destroyed more than 11,000 Russian tanks. Officials and social media users responded with hashtags like #LegoDrones and #MadeByHousewives.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called Papperger’s remarks sexist, saying: “Europe’s defence is powered by Ukrainian ‘housewives’. Ukrainian women are an essential part of Ukraine’s war effort and Europe’s security. They have stepped into roles once seen as male-dominated, bringing energy, discipline and determination.”
The statement was echoed by the head of Ukraine's Mission to NATO Alyona Getmanchuk.
Over 70,000 women serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with nearly 20,000 in combat roles. Many of them work as drone operators and developers.
Kyiv officials say women-drones operators took part in last year’s “Spiderweb” operation, in which more than 100 Ukrainian drones struck air bases deep inside Russia, targeting nuclear-capable long-range bombers.
Germany’s Rheinmetall, one of Europe’s largest arms manufacturers, has become a major supplier to Ukraine, providing tanks, 155mm artillery, mortar shells and surveillance drones.
The company’s chief executive officer, Armin Papperger, sparked controversy with comments dismissing Ukraine’s drone industry as “housewives with 3-D printers in the kitchen,” coming as Volodymyr Zelenskyy was touring the Gulf and signing defence agreements.
These deals include cooperation on missile and drone threats, with Ukrainian specialists deployed to several countries to assist with air defence and drone interception systems.
Papperger’s remarks have also sparked wider debate on defence innovation. Four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, drones are estimated to cause around 80% of combat casualties on both sides.
Germany and Ukraine have launched a joint venture between Germany’s Quantum Systems and Ukraine’s Frontline Robotics.
The facility, expected to produce up to 10,000 drones within a year, is the first Ukrainian drone production line in Germany and forms part of Kyiv’s effort to expand arms manufacturing in Europe amid rising demand for unmanned systems.
Ukrainian companies now produce around four million drones of various types each year.
Ukraine Sustains Unrelenting Nightly Attacks on Russia’s Baltic Oil Ports
Ukrainian officials are reporting that they have maintained a series of unrelenting attacks designed to dramatically impact the oil export operations on the Baltic. Overnight into Sunday, they staged what they said was the fifth consecutive nightly attack on the Russian terminal at Ust-Luga.
The governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, confirmed the attacks in a series of social media postings. He warned residents, initially saying they had destroyed 29, then 31, and then 36 drones. He also warned that additional attacks were possible throughout the day, with air defense forces on alert.
He sought to downplay the level of damage but confirmed there was damage and fires at Ust-Luga from the most recent attack. He reported that additional firefighting resources had been called in from the Leningrad region and St. Petersburg, including two fire trains. He later reported the fires had been contained while also saying drone debris had damaged a nearby residential building.
Satellite pictures, however, seem to show more extensive damage. Residents have been warned not to post photos, but some are leaking onto social media showing large plumes of smoke and workers evacuated. Ukraine asserted that as much as 40 percent of the export capacity has been impacted.
The attacks have alternated between Ust-Luga, which Reuters says ships 700,000 barels were day, and Primorsky, which it says handles one million barrels per day. Storage tanks and loading facilities are believed to have been damaged, as well as railroad tracks. Bloomberg notes the two terminals handle nearly half of Russia’s crude oil exports.
It is not the first time Ukraine has struck the terminals. They hit Ust-Luga in 2025. Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters, however, that long-range drones are becoming more effective. He said they are being technically refined.
Zelensky asserted that the systematic targeting of the oil operations, including also hitting refineries, was in response to Russia’s attacks over the past few months on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. “We responded with a strong blow, reducing the possibility of Ust-Luga,” he said.
Ukraine’s Security Service confirmed that they had hit the two terminals on successive days. Yevhenii Khmara said they were aiming at reducing Russia’s ability to finance the war through oil revenues. The strikes come as oil prices skyrocketed above $100 pr barrle due to the war with Iran.
Russian officials said they had shot down a total of 155 Ukrainian drones over 16 regions last night. It responded by launching 442 drones and one missile into Ukraine.
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