Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev offered what can only be described as a fireworks preview.
Medvedev, now serving as Russia’s deputy head of the Security Council, hinted that Moscow might have a rather explosive housewarming planned for Rheinmetall, Germany’s biggest arms manufacturer, which has just opened up shop in Ukraine.
Yes, you heard that right. Rheinmetall, the company famous for its Leopard tanks and other ironclad innovations, has expanded into Ukraine through a joint venture with Ukroboronprom, Ukraine’s state-owned defense manufacturer. Together, they plan to roll out a robust portfolio: artillery ammunition, armored vehicles, and air-defense systems. And if Medvedev’s remarks are any indication, Moscow seems less than thrilled to see this assembly line inch closer to its doorstep.
Rheinmetall’s grand expansion plan includes not just one, but four brand-new manufacturing sites inside Ukraine. The aim? Well, to say the least, it’s to boost Ukraine’s defenses. Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall’s CEO, confirmed that “the first plant is already operational” during a recent interview, offering a rare peek into Germany’s grand industrial ballet in Ukraine. “Things are progressing,” Papperger said, with the optimism of a man who clearly hasn’t read the comments section on Medvedev’s Telegram.
So, by the end of this year, Ukraine is expected to have its very own, freshly minted Lynx infantry fighting vehicle. Papperger even mentioned that the joint venture has been churning out service for infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks, marking it as quite the productive pairing.
But Medvedev didn’t let this news slip by without his trademark blend of sarcasm and threat. In his online post, he noted, “The German company Rheinmetall has launched the first of four military factories in Ukraine. As previously promised, we eagerly await a celebratory Russian ‘fireworks display’ right at the production site.” In case there was any ambiguity in his tone, Medvedev kindly paired his message with a video of an explosion.
Rheinmetall, meanwhile, doesn’t appear to be deterred by the ominous commentary. The German defense giant has, after all, reported that business has been booming. Thanks to the heightened demand driven by the Ukraine conflict, their profits are nearly double what they were in the first half of this year and they’re expecting an eye-watering €60 billion in new orders by year-end. And if the company’s balance sheets could talk, they’d probably say, “Conflict may not be good for peace, but it’s certainly good for profits.”
Moscow, unsurprisingly, has taken issue with all this Western involvement, arguing that Germany’s new venture in Ukraine isn’t just about defense—it’s about fattening the wallets of the military-industrial complex while leaving EU and U.S. taxpayers to foot the bill.
Russia has doubled down on its stance that such support to Ukraine will do little to alter the conflict’s trajectory and will simply drag the ordeal out further, benefitting arms manufacturers more than anyone else.
So, what’s the takeaway here? While Rheinmetall eagerly moves forward with plans to set up shop in Ukraine, Moscow seems to be prepping for its own kind of “open house” event, which promises to feature a rather unconventional light show.
If this all sounds like a scene from a dystopian satire, you’re not alone. In the back-and-forth world of international defense, it’s never just business as usual—it’s business with a side of high-octane theater.