РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Oleksiy Danilov: The development of human potential is a key condition for the formation of a powerful defense-industrial complex

The development of human potential and training of specialists in the security and defense sphere is a key condition for the formation of a powerful defense-industrial complex. This was stated by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov during the round table “Technologies of asymmetric counteraction to external aggression and ways of their effective development” organized by the Ukrainian Security Studies Institute.

According to Mr. Danilov, thanks to the efforts of the NSDC Staff, a comprehensive analysis was conducted and a joint stance with the Office of the President of Ukraine was developed on the process of reforming the defense-industrial complex and developing relevant long-term and medium-term defense planning documents.

This resulted, in particular, in the adoption in February 2020 of a strategic decision to establish a relevant ministry - the Ministry for Strategic Industries of Ukraine and introduce the post of Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine responsible of the development of strategic technologies and innovations, whose powers include the issues of reforming the defense-industrial complex and developing the space industry.

Mr. Danilov stressed that one of the key conditions for the formation of a powerful defense-industrial complex is primarily the development of human potential in the industry. “Without people, without the brains of Ukrainians, we will not win”, - he said adding that the NSDC Staff conducted an analysis of the state of higher education and training in the national security and defense sphere, which will soon be submitted to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to the NSDC Secretary, cyber, biological and information wars are coming to the forefront in the world today, and “the whole world today fight a war through intelligence”, which requires Ukraine to take decisions relevant to modern threats.

Touching upon the issue of financing the security and defense sector of Ukraine, Mr. Danilov stressed that this year the largest amount of financing for all the years of independence is envisaged - 246 billion hryvnias.

In this context, the priorities for the formation of the powerful defense industry, according to Mr. Danilov, are the further development of advanced missile systems, the development of domestic aviation and cyber defense systems.

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the USSI, Academician, First Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, member of the Supervisory Board of the SC “Ukroboronprom” Volodymyr Gorbulin, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleg Uruskiy, the USSI Board member, director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies (CIACR) Valentyn Badrak, the USSI Board member, the Defense Express media and consulting company director Serhiy Zgurets also participated in the round table.