Russian propaganda media are spreading false claims that Ukraine allegedly plans to sell Western weapons received from its partners in Europe. In reality, this is not about selling arms supplied by allies, but about launching a program of controlled exports of Ukrainian-made weapons. The funds generated from these exports will be directed toward developing the defense industry and producing scarce drones.

The spread of this disinformation was flagged by StopFake fact-checkers. Propagandists claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had allegedly “opened a commission shop for stolen weapons” and was planning to sell in Europe arms that Ukraine had previously received from Western partners as military aid. The publications alleged that British-made naval drones and artillery systems assembled from European and Soviet components were supposedly being offered for sale.

These claims have nothing to do with reality. What is actually being discussed is the resumption of controlled exports of Ukrainian weapons – that is, arms produced by Ukraine’s own defense industry enterprises. This initiative does not involve Western weapons supplied by allies as military assistance. After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine completely halted arms exports, but in 2025, as domestic production increased and surpluses emerged, a decision was made to partially resume exports under state control.

In late September 2025, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine was preparing to begin controlled arms exports even before the end of martial law. The president emphasized that only those types of weapons for which the Ukrainian army has sufficient supplies would be exported. The proceeds would be used to expand the production of drones and other critically needed equipment. On October 28, 2025, Zelensky instructed Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to launch the program as early as November. He also tasked the government with ensuring that by the end of the year at least half of the weapons in Ukraine’s defense system would be domestically produced.

Ukraine plans to open representative offices in Berlin and Copenhagen to strengthen industrial cooperation with partners. This is about expanding international production cooperation, not about “trading Western weapons”, as Russian propaganda attempts to portray it. Ukrainian media have previously reported that the initiative to resume exports is supported by private defense companies that have excess production capacity.