Leonardo, Italy’s largest defense group, has a subsidiary in Kyiv called Leonardo Ukraine, MF-Milano Finanza reported on August 20, 2026. MF said the company has been in the companies register since May 20, 2026; UNN and Großwald said the entity came to light through Leonardo’s half-year financial report. It is wholly owned through Leonardo International and based in central Kyiv, according to MF. Lens did not find a Leonardo press release or the registry entry, and no source named who leads the unit.

Capital and activities

  • Share capital: UAH 5.13 million (UNN); about UAH 5.1 million, roughly €100,000 (Militarnyi); just under €100,000 (Euronews, citing Il Fatto Quotidiano).
  • MF said the main activity listed in its codes is experimental research and development, with a wider scope that includes communications equipment, measuring and navigation instruments and special machinery. UNN and Militarnyi listed research on communications and navigation systems, software, IT services, and electronic and optical technologies.
  • A Leonardo representative said “We have completed the legal process to begin operations,” according to UNN, citing Euractiv.

What Leonardo’s CEO said

Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani told Il Sole 24 Ore, as reported on September 5: “We regard Ukraine as a crucial testing ground,” with “A particular focus on drones and, above all, on the ability to test the solutions we are developing.” He also said: “We have identified a number of firms with innovative and interesting solutions.” Militarnyi, relaying a Bloomberg interview, reported on September 6 that the Kyiv unit may pursue investments or buyouts. No source Lens read said the subsidiary will build drones or missiles in Ukraine.

Michelangelo Dome

MF reported that Leonardo will test its Michelangelo Dome integrated air-defense system in Ukraine. Euronews Italia reported on September 4 that Mariani confirmed the stated timeline, with tests of the component for defense against drone attacks in the final part of the year. Militarnyi and Großwald attributed an earlier version of the testing plan to former CEO Roberto Cingolani. Lens found no report, as of November 12, that the tests have taken place.

A NATO counter-drone program tested in Ukraine

Separately, Euronews Italia reported on August 21, citing Il Fatto Quotidiano, on UNITE – Brave NATO, a program set up in 2026 by Brave1 and NATO. Its first round, worth about €10 million, funds teams made up of a Ukrainian company and a company from a NATO country, with up to €1 million per project, for detecting, disrupting and shooting down drones; finalist solutions must be tested in Ukraine. According to a NATO Communications and Information Agency timeline cited by Euronews, proposals were due on September 8. Euronews said 11 Italian firms were listed as potentially interested, naming Leonardo, Thales Alenia Space, Beretta, GmSpazio and Progetti Italiani Speciali, and noted that being listed does not mean a company bid or was selected. Lens found no report of bidders or winners.

Related: Fedorov, adviser to Italy’s defense minister, and his “Army of Robots”.

Sources and notes

Sources: MF-Milano Finanza, August 20, 2026 (Italian); UNN, August 21; Militarnyi, August 21 and September 6; Großwald, August 21; Euronews, August 26; Euronews Italia, September 4 (Italian); Il Sole 24 Ore, September 5; Euronews Italia, August 21 (Italian). Notes: registration details come from media citing the Ukrainian register and Leonardo’s half-year report, neither of which Lens read; Militarnyi’s September 6 article describes the unit as opened in August 2026. Lens did not read Euractiv’s original report, the Bloomberg interview, Industria Italiana or Matrice Digitale. The six unnamed Italian firms and the program documentation were not seen. Thumbnail photo: the Kyiv skyline at sunset with the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra bell tower, 2015, by Sergey Galyonkin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped. Illustrative: it shows the city, not Leonardo’s office.

Image: Sergey Galyonkin (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.