“The primary goal of defense cooperation is to prevent future wars on the continent — profit comes only after that,” says Head of International Partnerships at the Come Back Alive Foundation
Kateryna Leschyshyn, Head of International Partnerships at the Come Back Alive Foundation, presented the Foundation’s work at the Norwegian-Ukrainian Business Forum held in Lviv on June 17–18.
The forum brought together business leaders, investors, industry experts, representatives of public institutions, and international partners to strengthen Norwegian-Ukrainian cooperation in support of Ukraine’s recovery, resilience, and long-term economic development.
Speaking during a panel discussion on the defense industry and dual-use technologies, Kateryna Leschyshyn emphasized:
“Although our discussion is largely focused on business development, it is important to remember that the primary goal of defense cooperation is to help Ukraine win the war and prevent future conflicts on the continent. Profit comes only after that.”
She also shared the Come Back Alive Foundation’s experience of working with Ukrainian manufacturers and suppliers of military and dual-use products, highlighting the Foundation’s best practices in procurement, reporting, and collecting and analyzing feedback from the end users of equipment and weapons — units of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces.
“If I were deciding how to operate in the defense sector, I would rely on three criteria. First, whether a military technology or solution delivers the required effect on the battlefield. Second, whether it makes efficient use of resources. And third, how to maximize profits in order to reinvest them into further development,”
Kateryna Leschyshyn noted.
She also highlighted that every technological capability ultimately depends on people — making investment in human capital equally important. The size of the workforce, the quality of training, and the skills of personnel on the ground directly influence a country’s defense capabilities.
According to Kateryna Leschyshyn, Head of International Partnerships at the Come Back Alive Foundation, an increasing number of Norwegian companies and civil society organizations are actively exploring opportunities for cooperation with both Ukrainian manufacturers and NGOs.
One example is Fritt Ukraina, a Norwegian volunteer organization that, through contributions from private donors, has been systematically supporting Come Back Alive’s DroneFall project for more than two years. The project is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s capacity to counter Russian drone threats.
In 2026, the Come Back Alive Foundation and Fritt Ukraina entered a new phase of cooperation by launching a targeted assistance initiative worth €2 million to help protect port infrastructure in southern Ukraine from drone attacks. As a maritime nation, Norway feels a particular sense of solidarity with Ukraine in addressing these challenges.
“Fritt Ukraina supported DroneFall in 2024 and 2025 and saw firsthand how its donations were transformed into tangible results on the battlefield and in the protection of civilian infrastructure. Today, it is the Foundation’s largest long-term international partner,”
Kateryna Leschyshyn said.
