Welcoming Kateryna Chernohorenko to the DPRTE 2026 Keynote Arena

January 22, 2026

The organisers of DPRTE 2026 have confirmed that Kateryna Chernohorenko, the former Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, will join the keynote arena to lead a critical discussion on the transfer of combat-proven innovation to the UK defence supply chain.

Serving in her ministerial role from 2023 to 2025, Chernohorenko was instrumental in the rapid digitisation of Ukraine’s front-line operations, most notably as the architect of the “Army of Drones” initiative and the development of the NATO-certified DELTA battlefield management system. Her participation in the panel, titled “From Conflict to Capability: Lessons from Ukraine for UK Defence and Industry,” provides a significant opportunity for UK contractors and technology developers to gain technical insights into agile procurement and digital resilience.

The session aims to provide actionable intelligence for UK businesses currently navigating the requirements of the ongoing Strategic Defence Review. Joining Chernohorenko are Denis Demko from the Embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom and Andrii Romanchuk of the EUCON Legal Group. Together, the panel will examine the legal and economic frameworks necessary to facilitate bilateral industrial cooperation between British and Ukrainian firms. For UK suppliers, understanding these frameworks is essential for addressing emerging capability gaps and entering international partnerships that prioritise rapid deployment and iterative technological advancement.

Central to the discussion will be the “UAV Revolution” and the digital transformation of military support systems. Chernohorenko’s experience in launching the Army+ and Reserve+ ecosystems offers a blueprint for how digital infrastructure can revolutionise service member support and operational logistics. The panel will also detail the journey to achieving NATO certification for battlefield systems during active conflict, a process that has profound implications for UK firms seeking to ensure their products are interoperable across the Alliance. These lessons in high-velocity innovation are particularly relevant for SMEs specialising in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), cyber security, and data-driven command and control.

For professionals within the UK defence sector, the insights shared during this keynote will assist in future-proofing procurement strategies and identifying new avenues for industrial growth. The session underscores the shift toward a more responsive and technologically integrated supply chain that can adapt to modern electronic warfare and surveillance threats. Defence industry stakeholders intending to attend DPRTE 2026 are advised that the early bird registration window, offering reduced delegate rates, remains open until 30 January.

Registration and further details regarding the event programme can be accessed via the official portal at www.dprte.co.uk