A student soldier of the Yatagan School for Unmanned Aerial Systems launches a training target drone during drills in the Kyiv region, Ukraine, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
ELKYIV, Ukraine (AP) 鈥 Senior officials in Kyiv are taking a swipe at the head of German defense giant Rheinmetall, whose unflattering comments about Ukrainian drone technology and the role of women in the war against Russia ignited a social media backlash.
Rheinmetall AG鈥檚 Chairman and CEO Armin Papperger likened Ukraine鈥檚 development of cutting-edge drone expertise as like playing 鈥渨ith Lego鈥 and said the drones are being built by 鈥淯krainian housewives.鈥
鈥淭hey have 3D printers in the kitchen, and they produce parts for drones,鈥 Papperger said in comments to The Atlantic magazine published Friday. 鈥淭his is not innovation.鈥
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is to Gulf countries amid the , on Monday described Papperger鈥檚 remarks as 鈥渟trange.鈥
鈥淚f every Ukrainian housewife can really produce drones, then every Ukrainian housewife could also be the CEO of Rheinmetall,鈥 he told reporters via voicemail on WhatsApp. 鈥淚 congratulate our defense-industrial complex on being at such a high level.鈥
Ukraine has quickly grown into one of the world鈥檚 leading producers of cutting-edge, battle-tested drone interceptors that are cheap and effective.
Rheinmetall, one of Europe鈥檚 biggest arms manufacturers with almost 10 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in sales last year, supplies ammunition, air defense and combat vehicles to Ukraine.
After Papperger鈥檚 comments appeared, Ukrainians took to social media to berate him under the hashtag #MadeByHousewives.
Ukraine鈥檚 Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko praised the role of Ukrainian women in the effort to thwart Russia鈥檚 all-out invasion of February 2022.
鈥淯krainian women are indeed an essential part of Ukraine鈥檚 war effort and of Europe鈥檚 security,鈥 she posted on X late Sunday. 鈥淭hey have stepped with courage into many areas once seen as male-dominated, bringing energy, discipline, and determination.鈥
鈥淎nd they are doing this while raising our next generation and caring for their families under wartime pressures,鈥 she added.
Zelenskyy adviser Alexander Kamyshin said he regularly visits military manufacturing plants and sees men and women working side by side.
鈥淭hey are great housewives, yet they have to work hard in the military factories,鈥 he said on X, adding: 鈥淭hey deserve respect.鈥
Rheinmetall responded Sunday on X, saying that the company has 鈥渢he utmost respect鈥 for Ukrainian people fighting Russia.
鈥淓very single woman and man in (Ukraine) is making an immeasurable contribution,鈥 it said. 鈥淭he innovative strength and the fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people are an inspiration to us.鈥
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Follow AP鈥檚 coverage of the war in Ukraine at
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