The war in Ukraine continues to escalate, and today saw a strike land directly into the very workings of the startup ecosystem. A Russian ballistic missile strike hit the Defense Demo Day & Defense Expo, an event taking place at a training ground near Kyiv.
The event – ironically sub-titled “Critically Protected” – was reportedly organized by the ARMADA Association of Manufacturers of Unmanned Systems and Associated Technologies. We are still working to confirm more details, but initial reports indicate at least 10 people were killed and more than 100 injured.
The event had brought together representatives of Ukrainian defence companies to showcase military technologies and capabilities. The attack has triggered widespread criticism within Ukraine’s defence technology community over how large, open-air events are organised within range of Russian ballistic missiles.
“Organising mass military events within ballistic missile range in the open air means helping the Russians kill people. There are no words,” Ukrainian volunteer and activist Serhii Sternenko wrote on social media.
The event, including its location, had been publicly announced in advance. While it is not clear that public promotion enabled the strike, defence demonstrations held at known training grounds are inherently difficult to conceal if they attract large numbers of participants.
According to official statements, two Russian missiles struck the Kyiv region.
The Office of the Prosecutor General has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the event, including whether any officials or organisers may bear responsibility for the security arrangements.
Ukraine’s rapidly expanding defence innovation ecosystem has become increasingly complacent about operational security, say critics.
“More and more companies and associations are feeling increasingly relaxed about organizing events and demo days,” journalist Bohdan Miroshnychenko of Ukrainska Pravda wrote on Facebook. “Something like this was bound to happen eventually.”
He added that one of his publication’s reporters avoided the attack only because the growing number of defence demo days made it impossible to attend them all.
“That in itself is telling and deserves some reflection,” he added.
Our thoughts are with those impacted in the incident.
