Turkish drone maker Baykar will build factory in Ukraine, says Zelenskiy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy awarded Turkish defence firm Baykar's Chief Executive Haluk Bayraktar with the Ukrainian Order of Merit. Baykar will build a factory in Ukraine, Zelenskiy said.

Saturday September 10 2022 11:05 am

This file photo shows Ukrainian President Zelenskiy giving the Ukrainian Order of Merit to Haluk Bayraktar

Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sept. 9 met with the head of Turkish defence firm Baykar and said the company would set up a factory in Ukraine to build unmanned aerial vehicles.

Baykar's Bayraktar TB2 drone has been hugely popular in Ukraine, where it helped destroy many Russian artillery systems and armoured vehicles.

"We discussed the details of the construction of the Baykar factory in Ukraine and the production of new goods using Ukrainian components," Zelenskiy said in an online post after meeting Baykar Chief Executive Haluk Bayraktar in Kyiv.

A video posted online showed Zelenskiy giving Haluk Bayraktar the Ukrainian Order of Merit. In return, Zelenskiy received a traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirt featuring a drone.

Russia has previously complained to Turkey over its sale of the drones to Ukraine.

President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa I was honored with the 1st Degree State Order of Merit. I would like to thank the President of the Ukraine for this valuable recognition. I will continue to strive for a world where peace and justice prevail. pic.twitter.com/5KtUiGTtck
— Haluk Bayraktar (@haluk) September 9, 2022

Topics Baykar Bayraktar drones Haluk Bayraktar Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy