The Supervisory Board of the “Ukrainian Defense Industry” joint-stock company based on the results of the competition appointed the general director of Herman Smetanin, who previously held this position.
The selection, search and evaluation of 14 candidates was carried out by the international company Odgers Berndtson, which specializes in the selection of top managers and has successful experience working with leading Ukrainian and foreign companies. The decision on the appointment was made after the final interviews with the applicants who were shortlisted based on the results of the previous stage of the competition.
“First of all, I want to thank the specialists of Odgers Berndtson for their work at the highest level and all the candidates for their participation and ideas regarding the development of the defense plant. Herman Smetanin has gained unique work experience and is well-versed in both the internal processes of enterprises and the organization of military operations at the government level.
This complex of knowledge and skills allows to effectively organize the current work of Ukroboronprom, as well as to have a strategic vision of the further development of the industry. The new General Director of JSC “UOP” is capable of solving the most ambitious tasks to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and build a modern weapons company. David Lomzharia, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ukroboronprom, said.
It will be recalled that Herman Smetanin, born in 1992, was appointed general director of Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC (successor of Ukroboronprom) at the end of June 2023. Before that, for some time he headed the factory named after Malysheva, where in 2020-2021 he worked as a production director, in 2021-2022 he managed the Kharkiv Armored Plant, and in 2016-2020 he held the position of chief engineer of the Lviv Armored Plant.
In September 2024, the Verkhovna Rada appointed Smetanin as Minister of Strategic Industries, after which Oleg Gulyak became the General Director of Ukroboronprom.
On July 17, 2025, the parliament approved the new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at the proposal of Prime Minister Yulia Svyridenko, where Smetanin did not receive the post. Even then it was announced that he would again head Ukroboronprom.
