The Kremlin said on Tuesday that a factory in Ukraine that was opened by the German arms maker Rheinmetall could become a target of the Russian military.
When asked if Russia considered the factory a “legitimate military target,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied, “Certainly it is.”
Rheinmetall opened the factory this month, and it will focus on the production and maintenance of armored vehicles. Armin Papperger, the CEO of Rheinmetall, said the goal is to produce a batch of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles by the end of the year.
Rheinmetall has said it plans to open a total of four factories in Ukraine despite Russian threats to target them. The other three factories will include facilities to produce gunpowder, tank ammunition, and air defense systems.
Other Western arms makers looking to cash in on the proxy war have announced plans to open factories or help facilitate the production of weapons inside Ukraine. Helping build up Ukraine’s military-industrial complex is one of NATO’s long-term goals.
The US is also spending money to help produce weapons inside Ukraine. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US has agreed to provide $800 million for the production of long-range drones, which can be used to hit targets deep inside Russian territory.
