The Ukrainian president responded sharply on Monday to the head of the German defense giant Rheinmetall who compared Ukrainian drone production factories to “housewives” manufacturing weapons in their kitchens.
“If every housewife in Ukraine can really produce drones, then every housewife in Ukraine can be the general director of Rheinmetall,” Volodymyr Zelensky replied.
He was responding to a question from journalists about the controversy caused by the comments of Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger in an interview with the American magazine “The Atlantic” published Friday, in which he compared the main Ukrainian drone manufacturers to “housewives”. “They have 3D printers in the kitchen and they produce parts for drones,” he said, adding: “that’s not innovation.”
A “weird” comment
Volodymyr Zelensky called the comment “bizarre” on Monday. The Ukrainian leader returns from a tour of the Gulf countries during which he signed security cooperation and air defense agreements, relying in particular on Ukrainian expertise in the production of interceptor drones after more than four years fighting against the Russian invasion.
Mr. Papperger’s remarks caused an uproar in Ukraine. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko notably defended on X Sunday the “essential” part played by Ukrainian women “in many areas formerly considered reserved for men”, including the army and the defense industry.
The Ukrainians, for their part, responded on social networks by humorously praising the prowess of their country’s anti-aircraft defense under the keyword “#MadeByHousewives”.
Attempted apology
The German group tried to make amends. “We have the greatest respect for the immense efforts of the Ukrainian people to defend themselves,” Rheinmetall said in a post on X Sunday, adding that “every woman and man in Ukraine makes an invaluable contribution.”
