Sign up to volunteer
Donate
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Delegation
  4. /
  5. The West Must...

The West Must Finance Freedom

DEFENSE TECH FOR UKRAINE 2025 DELEGATION REPORT

September 28, 2025

Defense Tech for Ukraine (DTU), an international volunteer-run nonprofit working to accelerate the development and spread of critical technology for Ukraine’s defense, is currently in Ukraine advancing its mission. Fourteen DTU members from the US, UK, and Canada for two weeks attended defense conferences, connected Ukrainian defense makers with Western investors, and helped address critical technical and funding challenges for several Ukrainian military units. The group’s core mission: increasing both the quality and quantity of equipment in the hands of Ukraine’s defenders.

The delegation’s time in Ukraine has been extremely productive, delivering a wealth of new information, critical partnerships, and validation of the need for DTU’s unique process supporting Ukraine’s defense industry. Four members have stayed on in Ukraine, while the remainder have returned home to support remotely.

Key Connections

– 14 international investors in defense technology (Danish, American, British, German, and French) were connected with. Danish investors have been the most engaged, consistent with DTU’s experiences at both IT Arena and Defense Tech Valley in Lviv, as well as at European Union Parliament meetings in Brussels earlier this year.
– 37 Ukrainian defense manufacturers were added to DTU’s network of manufacturers, covering a wide range of technologies: drones (air and ground), EW/jamming systems, mesh digital communications, AI-powered battlefield awareness, integrated command and control systems, and more.
– Influential allies, including the head of Brave1, professors at Lviv Polytechnic and Kyiv School of Economics, and others not disclosed here.

DTU’s Nichole Robichaux holds an advanced FPV drone at a Ukrainian military unit’s drone workshop

Defense Conferences

DTU participated in two major defense-focused conferences in Lviv:

Monava’s Alex Hebbe describes their acoustic drone detector to Carl Larson of DTU

At Brave1, DTU engaged with over 100 contacts through its booth and networking lounge. Notable connections included the head of Brave1, Ukrainian legal experts on export and company formation, multiple drone commanders, military R&D teams, a special forces drone school, and numerous European venture capital firms interested in Ukraine’s defense sector.

At IT Arena, the delegation focused heavily on Western investors, while also engaging key Ukrainian stakeholders: the Director of Digital Transformation at the Ministry of Defense, the head of Scientific R&D at Lviv Polytechnic, and defense-minded faculty at the Kyiv School of Economics.

The DTU delegation team and allies at the Brave1 Defense Tech Valley conference

Both events strongly confirmed DTU’s assessment that facilitating international funding for Ukraine’s defense industry is the single most impactful way to defend Ukrainian lives and freedom. Other stakeholders are arriving at the same conclusion:

DTU Supported Projects

DTU was proud to host several of its supported manufacturers at the Brave1 conference:
– Kaizen Labs (Ukraine): Acoustic drone detectors, fiber cable cutters, and more.
– Volunteer Medical Supplies (Ukraine): Rapid-deployment litters.
– Monava (Sweden): Acoustic drone detectors (manpack systems).
– Military Manufacturing (US): Recoilless drone-mounted shotguns.

Kaizen Labs’ Preston Zen describes their product mix to Carl Larson of DTU

The booth attracted significant attention. For example, five Ukrainian military units requested testing of Kaizen Labs’ Drone Sentinel detector, which DTU helped evaluate at a private facility near Lviv with promising results. Monava reported over 200 new orders for its manpack detector directly from exposure at the DTU booth—an outcome that will undoubtedly save lives on the battlefield.

Cutting-edge demining UGV (ground drone) at the IT Arena conference in Lviv

A Ukrainian startup investment pitch at the IT Arena conference in Lviv

Kyiv Connections

In Kyiv, the delegation:
– Toured a UGV manufacturing facility.
– Met with DTU members developing interceptor drones.
– Engaged with soldiers and officers working on digital communications and R&D projects.
– Connected with members of the Snake Island Institute and other allies.

DTU’s Carl Larson at Industrial Bureau’s UGV factory

This work continued despite a Shahed drone attack on Kyiv during the delegation’s first night in the city, with one drone intercepted just 500m from the hotel.

DTU members Roy Gardiner and Alexander Drueke examine a “Prince Vandal” Russian fiber optic drone in Kyiv

Fearless Kharkiv

The delegation also spent four days in Kharkiv, meeting with respected military units including Kraken and NGU 13th Khartia, R&D labs, drone repair workshops, and the Executive Director of the Kharkiv IT Cluster. Critical supplies were delivered to a front line defense unit.

DTU delivers 5 Starlinks to a frontline unit near Kharkiv

The team also reconnected with former soldier comrades of Carl Larson, who are still serving on the frontlines.

DTU’s Larson and Robichaux support an international special forces unit near the Kharkiv front

In addition to meetings, the team toured heavily damaged northern neighborhoods just a few kilometers from the front. During the trip’s final night in the city, Kharkiv endured a wave of 40+ shaheds, 17 of which landed in the city. Residents calmly executed blackout protocols, manned the AA defenses, and continued daily life—an inspiring display of resilience.

Conclusion

DTU’s presence in Ukraine has reinforced the critical importance of international collaboration and direct support to Ukrainian defense innovators. It’s apparent that modern technology plays a decisive role in 21st century war. Ukraine’s most respected military commander, former Ukrainian commander in chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has stated that technological progress will decide the winner of the current war. International partners, investors, and nonprofit facilitators such as DTU will play an outsized role in determining the battlefield success that will enable Ukraine to negotiate from a position of strength. The critical missing link of outside western capitol to invest in Ukraine’s burgeoning defense sector is an attractive opportunity for western investors, as well as an opportunity to strengthen democracy’s eastern flank. In the future DTU will be heavily focused upon the essential work of connecting Ukraine’s defense sector with sources of western capital.

Defense Tech for Ukraine remains deeply honored to stand alongside the Ukrainian people in their fight for sovereignty, culture, and freedom. Sincere thanks to all who made this mission possible and to those committed to supporting Ukraine until the last invader is removed from its soil. Slava Ukraini!

Carl Larson, Jonathan Lippert, and the entire leadership team at Defense Tech for Ukraine

Reference Links

Your message has been successfully sent!