Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sarcastically responded to remarks by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger on Ukrainian drone production. In an interview with The Atlantic, Papperger likened the technology to playing with Lego blocks by housewives using kitchen 3D printers. Zelenskyy retorted that any Ukrainian housewife could then be Rheinmetall's CEO.
In an interview with US magazine The Atlantic, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger compared Ukrainian drone development to "playing with Lego blocks". He said Ukrainian housewives produced parts using 3D printers in kitchens, calling it "no innovation".
Zelenskyy responded on X: "If every Ukrainian housewife can really make drones, then every Ukrainian housewife can be CEO of Rheinmetall." He described the remarks as "strange" and "grotesque", urging competition through technology rather than rhetoric.
The comments sparked outrage in Ukraine. Prime Minister Julia Swyrydenko highlighted women's role in defense. Criticism gathered on social media under hashtags like #MadeByHousewives and #LEGODrones.
Rheinmetall posted on X expressing respect for Ukrainian efforts and praising the people's "innovation power and fighting spirit". KNDS Chairman Tom Enders told Handelsblatt that such statements show a failure to grasp changes in modern warfare, where software, robotics, and AI are key.
Drones play a crucial role in Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion, ongoing for over four years. A Zelenskyy advisor noted on X that Ukrainian drones have destroyed more than 11,000 Russian tanks.
