Millennial woman designing Ukraine's own ballistic missile says it will soon put Moscow in reach
Iryna Terekh, a Ukrainian architect turned CEO, is leading a drone manufacturing company to support her country's defense efforts against Russia. She pivoted her business expertise to help develop long-range attack drones after witnessing the destruction of her home city, Irpin.
Why it matters
It highlights the role of private sector innovation and civilian leadership in Ukraine's ongoing military defense strategy.
Kyiv — Ukraine's most important weapons manufacturer wears mismatched earrings and a black knit dress. "The good thing about being the boss is that you get to set the dress code," Iryna Terekh, the 34-year-old CEO of Fire Point, one of Ukraine's largest drone makers, told CBS News, grinning as she took a seat next to a model of one of the company's latest designs. With her high heels, bright smile, and entourage of millennial assistants and executives, Terekh stands out in her factory, where throngs of middle-aged men lug drone parts, wield power tools and chain-smoke cigarettes. But she is hardly an exception in a country forced to reinvent itself since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. "When the full-scale invasion started, a lot of people had to review what could be their personal impact," she said.
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