Want to see what an industrial trade fair in a war zone looks like?

I was certainly curious. Like most outsiders, I pictured Kyiv as considerably more war-scarred than it actually is, and was astonished that any large expo centre would still be hosting trade fairs. But as you’ve probably already gathered from this blog, Kyiv’s air defences have done a pretty good job so far. The Kyiv Industrial Expo was an interesting mix of civilian and military.

I was surprised to see all these emergency vehicles at the entrance.. I thought “Do you really market to local government bureaucrats at a trade fair??” I asked the reps whom they sell to, and they were cagey, only saying their customers are all inside Ukraine. I think that at the trade fair they market to private companies and very wealthy individuals, any of whom might need additional or replacement fire engines in wartime.

Mine clearing equipment. The Russians mined eastern Ukraine heavily in advance of the 2023 offensive.

Ukraine now produces over 1 million drones per year. At present, exporting drones is illegal. But whenever in the distant future the war ends, Ukraine will surely be a global leader and drones will become a huge source of foreign exchange earnings.

By contrast, this injection moulding machine wouldn’t be at all out of place at an industrial trade far in the West

Metalworking equipment. Ukraine’s heavy industrial base is primarily in the Russian-speaking and war-ravaged east, where the bombing is much more intense than what I experienced in Kyiv. But, these producers wouldn’t be paying to exhibit here if customers weren’t still buying this stuff. Which just shows, even in the thick of war, life goes on.

Brokk primarily produces robots and related equipment for demolition work

Tekhinvest Oil & Gas equipment

I like their tag-line!

Perimeter security systems

HardPoint-Raptor manufacturers PPE (personal protective equipment) and Medics’ supplies

Tourniquets

High-strength fabrics for belts etc.

Founded at the start of the war, Ragnarok makes gun belts and related accessories. Check out the picture on their homepage at Ragnarok.ua. One thing you cannot accuse Ukraine of being is Woke.

3D printing

HeroiCar (HeroCar) was the only charity exhibiting here. They take donations to procure all-terrain vehicles for the evacuation of wounded.