Ukraine has invested $7 billion in the domestic defense industry so far in 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Aug. 27. Kyiv has sought to dramatically increase its defense production capabalities since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Speaking at the “Ukraine 2024: Independence” forum in Kyiv on Aug. 27, Umerov said that Ukraine has already invested $7 billion in the defense industry in 2024 alone. The funds are going towards drones, robotics, and electronic warfare systems, all of which are “already yielding tangible results on the battlefield,” he said. Ukraine is…