The decision was made by the Supervisory Board after a competition in which 14 candidates participated. The international company Odgers Berndtson was responsible for the search, selection, and evaluation of the candidates.
The decision was made by the Supervisory Board after a competition in which 14 candidates participated. The international company Odgers Berndtson was responsible for the search, selection, and evaluation of the candidates.
David Lomdzhariya, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ukroboronprom, noted that German Smetanin has unique work experience and is well-versed in both the internal processes of enterprises and the organization of the defense-industrial complex at the government level. According to him, this knowledge will allow the new head to effectively organize current work and have a strategic vision for the further development of the industry.
German Smetanin has extensive experience in the Ukrainian defense industry. In 2014–2015, he worked at the Kharkiv Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering. Later, he held the positions of Chief Designer and Chief Engineer of the Lviv Armored Plant, as well as Director of the State Enterprise "V. O. Malyshev Plant".
From April 2021 to April 2023, Smetanin headed the State Enterprise "Kharkiv Armored Plant". In April 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine appointed him General Director of the State Enterprise "V. O. Malyshev Plant", and on June 28, 2023, he was appointed Head of JSC "Ukrainian Defense Industry".
Since September 5, 2024, he has held the position of Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine. After the government reorganization in July 2025, the Ministry of Strategic Industries was merged with the Ministry of Defense, Smetanin lost his position, but the president announced before the vote in the Rada that he would return to Ukroboronprom.
"German Smetanin will head Ukroboronprom. The task is very specific, clear. Currently, Ukrainian weapons at the front, in all our operations, are about 40%... We must reach the level of 50% of Ukrainian weapons in the first six months of the new government's work, increasing our own production," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his July address.
Earlier, the co-founder and CEO of Tencore said in an interview with dev.ua that thanks to strong cooperation with the Ministry of Strategic Industry and Trade, 2025 became the year of the NRC.
