Ukrainians have criticised German arms maker Rheinmetall after its CEO dismissed their ​country’s drone-focused defence innovation as basic technology put together by housewives in kitchens.

For Kyiv, ‌drones have been critical to its war effort against Russia and are a source of pride as the country has fended off a bigger and better-armed enemy in four years of fighting.

“If every housewife in ​Ukraine can really make drones, then every housewife in Ukraine can be the ⁠CEO of Rheinmetall,” Zelenskiy told reporters in a WhatsApp chat.