Kyiv – The CEO of Ukraine’s leading drone manufacturing company exudes a distinctive style, sporting mismatched earrings and a black knit dress. Iryna Terekh, 34, heads Fire Point, one of the nation’s foremost producers of drones, and shared her thoughts with CBS News as she sat beside a model of one of their latest innovations.

With her high heels, radiant smile, and a group of millennial assistants and executives by her side, Terekh stands out in a factory primarily filled with middle-aged men handling drone components and using power tools amid a haze of cigarette smoke. However, her presence reflects a broader trend in a country that has had to adapt since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.

“The onset of the full-scale invasion compelled many to reconsider their potential contributions,” Terekh noted. “You might discover that your skills and experiences can be redirected towards a new purpose.”

Terekh’s background lies in design and management. Initially trained as an architect in Irpin, she created outdoor furniture and patios while successfully running a high-performance concrete business.

When Russian troops occupied Irpin in early 2022, they devastated approximately 70% of the city. Terekh reflected, “I realized how exposed we are to the brutal actions of our adversary. If I could contribute any skills to aid in this conflict, I felt compelled to do so.”

After escaping the Russian occupation, Terekh sought ways to assist her country. In late 2022, Russia began launching attacks on Ukrainian cities with Iranian-manufactured Shahed drones and started producing its own variants, the Gerans.

Teaming up with Denys Shtilerman, a businessman and former collaborator in urban design, Terekh set out to develop long-range drones to support Ukraine’s retaliation efforts. While Shtilerman had experience in defense engineering, Terekh and most of their initial team members came from civilian sectors, including Yehor Skalyha, a film producer.

Initially, the company aimed to produce 20 FP-1 drones monthly. By 2024, these drones were regularly utilized to target Russian airfields, ammunition storage sites, and oil refineries. Over the past two years, the aspirations of Fire Point have expanded significantly.

Currently, the company manufactures between 300 and 400 long-range attack drones each day and has incorporated advanced weaponry into its production lines.

In June, one of Fire Point’s cruise missiles completed a remarkable mission exceeding 1,000 miles, which Terekh claims is the longest-range strike accomplished by a cruise missile in combat history.

Terekh also asserted that Ukraine has conducted double the number of deep strikes into Russia compared to Russian strikes against Ukraine in 2026, with 60% of those attacks utilizing Fire Point’s weapons.

Furthermore, she indicated that the company is just months away from launching Ukraine’s first domestically designed and manufactured ballistic missile. Unlike cruise missiles that maintain a lower flight path, ballistic missiles follow a higher trajectory, making them more challenging to intercept.

Fire Point represents a growing number of Ukrainian startups that have shifted the country from being a mere recipient of military aid to a hub of defense technology innovation.

Other companies have similarly intriguing origin stories. For instance, the founder of Sine Engineering, which has attracted American investment for its communication and navigation technologies, previously operated a business making standing desks before the conflict. Yaroslav Azhnyuk, who established Fourth Law, which creates autonomous guidance systems for drones, had previously founded Petcube, a pet technology startup supported by the American accelerator Y Combinator.

Terekh attributes the success of these companies to their founders’ varied experiences outside the defense sector and their ability to adapt quickly to new challenges.