On 16 July, the enterprises of the JSC "Ukrainian Defence Industry" (UDI) signed cooperation documents with Czech arms companies: Sellier & Bellot and Colt CZ Group. 

A contract was signed with Sellier & Bellot a.s. for the supply of goods and services to construct a new small arms ammunition production facility in Ukraine. The agreement with Colt CZ Group provides for the localisation of the assembly and subsequent production of NATO-standard assault rifles in Ukraine. 

"The Czech Republic is one of our most active partners. We are grateful to the Czech people for their support and to Czech gunsmiths for their trust. I am confident that this cooperation will help not only to increase arms production in Ukraine but also to deepen the integration of Ukrainian defence into the NATO system," said Minister of Strategic Industries Alexander Kamyshin. 

“The Czech Republic has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its defence against the unprecedented Russian aggression through diplomatic means, as well as via economic, humanitarian, and military assistance. I am proud of the Czech companies not only for delivering military materiel to the Ukrainian Armed Forces but also for building a self-sustaining Ukrainian defence industry that will help Ukraine’s defence and economy,” commented Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala. 

On 7 July 2023, the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The document provides for the support of military-technical cooperation, joint efforts to support arms and ammunition production projects and other Czech-Ukrainian defence industry projects. Both of today's agreements were made as part of the implementation of this memorandum.