Herman Smetanin has extensive management and engineering experience in the defence sector. He previously served as CEO of the Ukrainian Defence Industry Joint Stock Company from 2023 to 2024. The corporatisation of state enterprises has begun and is continuing, a supervisory board has been appointed and an effective anticorruption infrastructure has been established. The output of enterprises increased by 92% in 2023. The company was ranked 49th in the TOP 100 Defence Companies 2024 ranking and opened its first foreign representative office in Washington, DC. Previously, from 2022 to 2023, Smetanin headed the Malyshev Plant, one of the main producers of armoured vehicles and tanks in Ukraine. During his tenure, the plant more than tripled its production volume and became profitable. Smetanin also served as director of the Kharkiv Armoured Plant, where he developed the production of armoured personnel carriers and other critical military equipment. From 2016 to 2020, he worked as chief designer and chief engineer at the Lviv Armoured Plant. During this time, he established the repair, development and production of various heavy armoured vehicles.
Smetanin received a degree in design engineering from the Kharkiv National Automobile University and continued his studies at the National Technical University of Ukraine 'Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute', specialising in defence industry management. His technical and managerial experience has been a driving force in the modernisation of the Ukrainian defence industry during one of the most challenging periods in its history.
As Minister, Herman Smetanin continues to develop Ukraine's defence industry. In 2024, the capacity to produce weapons and military equipment increased to $35 billion. The production of all types of weapons has increased significantly, with some items increasing tenfold. New models of weapons, including defence technologies and longrange weapons, have been developed. Active work with partners is ongoing: joint venture agreements are being signed, and foreign companies are opening their offices and representative offices in Ukraine. Funds from partner countries are being attracted to the Ukrainian defence industry – over USD 1.5 billion was raised last year. Herman Smetanin is also working to improve Ukrainian legislation to meet the requirements of wartime and the needs of Ukrainian defence companies.