Zelenskyy says Rheinmetall CEO's belittling of Ukrainian drones is "strange"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he found it strange that the CEO of German defence company Rheinmetall compared the manufacturing of Ukrainian drones to "playing with Lego" and said they were created by "housewives with 3D printers".

Armin Papperger, CEO of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall AG, said in an interview with The Atlantic that there is no innovation in Ukrainian drones and compared their production to playing with Lego. Asked about Ukrainian defence companies Fire Point and Skyfall, Papperger described them as "housewives with 3D printers".

Zelenskyy said in an online Q&A with journalists that statement "sounds strange".

"If every housewife in Ukraine really can produce drones, then every housewife in Ukraine could also be the chief executive of Rheinmetall. And I congratulate our Ukrainian defence industry on [reaching] that level – a high level," he said.

Zelenskyy added that today the competition should be decided not by hyperbole, but by technology and results.

"And we are demonstrating the results of these technologies every day on the battlefield, on land, in the skies, as you know, and at sea. I am confident that our defence industry will take, and is already taking, its place in the world. In terms of systems, some of our systems and our systematic approach, I believe we are unique. Only we have the relevant experience," he added.

After Papperger's interview triggered a backlash, Rheinmetall stated that it has "the utmost respect" for Ukrainians' efforts to defend themselves against the Russian invasion, particularly given their limited resources.

Rheinmetall has supplied Ukraine with weaponry of its own manufacture on multiple occasions. In October 2025, for example, it announced that additional Skyranger 35 air defence systems would be sent to Ukraine.

In January, Rheinmetall announced Ukraine is due to receive its first Lynx KF41 combat vehicles in early 2026.