Volodymyr Zelenskyj reacts to the mockery of Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.Image: keystone
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has reacted to a controversial statement by Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger, in which he compared Ukrainian drone producers to “housewives”.
March 31, 2026, 03:40March 31, 2026, 03:40
“If every housewife in Ukraine can really make drones, then every housewife in Ukraine can be CEO of Rheinmetall,” said Zelensky, according to Ukrainian media. In his opinion, competition today should not be based on rhetoric, but rather on technologies and results, he explained.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.Image: keystone
According to an article in the US magazine “The Atlantic”, Papperger described Ukrainian drone manufacturers as “housewives” who sat in the kitchen with 3D printers and manufactured drone parts. That is not an innovation. When asked about Ukrainian drone technology, he said it was like playing with Lego.
The comments in the post sparked criticism. Afterwards, Rheinmetall expressed respect for the defense efforts of the Ukrainian people on Platform X. Every single woman and every single man made an immeasurable contribution, said the post, which explicitly praised the “innovative power and fighting spirit” of the Ukrainian people.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion with Western help for more than four years. Drones play an important role in the war. As part of its defensive campaign, Kiev’s military is also attacking targets in Russia, repeatedly inflicting painful blows on Moscow – especially with drones. (sda/dpa)