The CEO of Germany’s biggest defence company Rheinmetall drew widespread criticism after ridiculing Ukraine’s drone production, which he denigrated as “Ukrainian housewives” playing with Lego in their kitchen.
To counter an ensuing public relations disaster, the company was then forced to commend Ukraine’s war efforts in a post on X.
In an interview with US magazine The Atlantic, Armin Papperger said about Ukrainian drones: “This is how to play with Legos…. What is the innovation of Ukraine? They don’t have some technological breakthrough. They make innovations with their small drones, and they say, ‘Wow!’ And that’s great. Whatever. But this is not the technology of Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, or Rheinmetall.”
Later in the interview, Papperger added, “Who is the biggest drone producer in Ukraine? It’s Ukrainian housewives. They have 3-D printers in the kitchen, and they produce parts for drones.”
“That is not innovation,” concluded the Rheinmetall CEO.
Papperger’s remarks spurred criticism both abroad and domestically, including from Ukraine’s government and other companies in the drone industry.
“Rheinmetall says our Lego drones are made by housewives in their kitchens. Meanwhile, Lego drones already burned more than 11,000 Russian tanks,” countered Alexander Kamyshin, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on strategic affairs, writing on X.
He visited more than 200 military factories a year where he saw Ukrainian women working equally with men, Kamyshin added.
“They are great housewives, yet they have to work hard in the military factories. They deserve respect, Rheinmetall,” he said.
Florian Seibel, founder of German drone start-up Quantum Systems, wrote on LinkedIn he was “very sorry and embarrassed for the public statements made by a fellow German defence CEO”.
“Quantum Systems stands with all Ukrainian Housewives,” Seibel added.
Seibel suspected Papperger’s remarks were also motivated by Rheinmetall’s falling stock price, he later told German newspaper FAZ.
Since early January, Rheinmetall’s stock has fallen by almost 30 per cent, from more than €1,900 to only €1,370 per share.
Rheinmetall’s PR team promptly switched to damage control mode, and published a post on X celebrating the Ukrainian war effort.
“We have the utmost respect for the Ukrainian people’s immense efforts in defending themselves against the Russian attack – now for more than four years,” said the post.
“Every single woman and man in is making an immeasurable contribution. It is to Ukraine’s particular credit that it is fighting highly effectively even with limited resources,” continued the company.
Rheinmetall concluded, “The innovative strength and the fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people are an inspiration to us. We are grateful to be able to support with the resources at our disposal.”
