Ukraine's investments in defence industries amount to over $7 billion, they provided "enormous support" during the shortfall in international technical assistance, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said.

"We, together with the government, the Verkhovna Rada, have invested in defence industries. Our investments amount to over $7 billion. And these investments provided us with enormous support when we had shortfalls in international technical assistance," Umerov said at the Ukraine 2024. Independence forum on Tuesday in Kyiv.

He noted, in particular, that the Defence Ministry invested in drones, electronic warfare systems, and ground-based robotic systems.

Separately, the Minister noted the importance of work in the field of military infrastructure and emphasized that hospitals are currently being reconstructed in various cities of Ukraine

"As you know, we have built kilometers of various fortifications, fire and company strongpoints. Now we are continuing the direction of reconstructing hospitals in various cities of Ukraine," the Minister of Defence said.

In addition, Umerov recalled the creation of a single state register of conscripts and expressed hope for the imminent creation of the Veteran+ application.

"As you know, Reserve+ and Army+ were launched for recruiting. I hope that soon, together with the Ministry of Veterans and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, we will also create Veteran+," he said.