1560: Rustem Umerov Quotes 2023–2025: Ukraine’s Defense Minister on Drone Production, Air Defense, NATO & Anti-Corruption
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/21
How do Umerov’s 2023–2025 statements — urgent arms timelines, scaling to millions of drones, stronger air defenses, zero-tolerance for corruption, and Black Sea security — map Ukraine’s wartime blueprint and alliance strategy?
2023: “We have big challenges ahead and big opportunities ahead. Every day we advance, and every day we make our victory closer. Ukraine will win.”
2023: “Weaponry: We need it today. We need it now. We need it more.”
2024: “What does NATO mean for Ukrainians? It means peace, the end of the war, and development. We have already shown the world that we can operate almost all types of weapons and are ready to become part of the Alliance. Now we are focused on this.”
2024: “We need more air defense and missile defense systems to strike the enemy. The Russians are focusing on civilian infrastructure: hitting hospitals, schools, and other critical facilities.”
2024: “We have a plan. We are working to the plan. We are doing everything possible and impossible. But without timely supply [of western arms] it’s hard for us.”
2024: “For me corruption at a time of war is worse than terrorism.”
2024: “We believe that our arguments about the need to increase cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Korea will lead to a tangible strengthening of security for our peoples and regions.”
2025: “Our partners said they are willing to fully pay for all the production from these factories, and that … (they) will appropriate even more funding for this.”
2025: “This year, we will supply more than 4 million drones to the front.”
2025: “About two weeks ago, a decision was made to scale up these operations. We are already preparing a new large contract to increase the intensity of strikes.”
2025: “This is the new standard of war, where unmanned systems become a key element of combat, helping our defenders carry out the most complex missions.”
2025: “The Ukrainian side emphasizes: Russia’s movement of its military ships beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea will be considered a violation of the spirit of this agreement and will be viewed as a breach of commitments to ensure freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and a threat to Ukraine’s national security. In such a case, Ukraine will have full rights to exercise its right to self-defense.”
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