Inside a Ukrainian Bomb Factory, As Told by the Man Behind It All

In the shadow of war, this unassuming factory operates under the radar, supplying the Ukrainian military with the lifeline it needs to fight back. Like a weapons grocery store, frontline units arrive here to “shop” for improvised munitions that could turn the tide of battle. For the first time, the man behind it all—known only as Ivanych—is telling us the full story.

Ivanych, the mastermind of this operation and head of the 3rd Regiment, a special operations division, is rumored to be responsible for over 15% of Russian casualties. When confronted with this staggering statistic, he doesn’t mince words: “More. Even more,” he says.

Engineering survival

“We’re creating ammo that works on the frontline, reassembling old weapons, and engineering new solutions,” Ivanych explains, seated at a desk covered with experimental parts, a book about Business (in English), and a KIT KAT bar. Ivanych keeps a box of chocolates in his desk drawer at all times, a sweet tooth matched only by his penchant for explosives.

“The range of ammunition we get is massive,” he says, “anything and everything.” The factory itself receives Javelins and NLAW from the frontlines, which have been hit by shrapnel but are still intact inside. The explosives within them can be used to arm an FPV drone—or be dropped from one. The factory also repurposes grenades, adding counterweights to use for aerial drops. And this is only a fraction of it, “Everything—what you know and even what you don’t—can be turned into a weapon. You just have to get creative.”

Necessity fuels this creativity. With limited resources, Ivanych and his team repurpose old ammunition, transforming defunct US munitions—some dating back to the 1950s and sent by the Biden administration under Presidential Drawdown—into tools for modern warfare. “We can’t afford to throw away ammunition like the US,” says Ivanych. In Ukraine, nothing goes to waste. “We’re not as rich as America. Sure, there’s some brand-new ammo, but it’s rare. Very rare,” he says.

Creativity under pressure

Inside the factory, the atmosphere is tense. Working with explosives is dangerous work and safety is non-negotiable. “We’re working with explosives—anything can happen,” Ivanych emphasizes. “Every bullet has a name on it—whether it’s for the Russians or us here in the factory. You have to be a master of your craft.”

In one room, a table full of everyday items, such as Pringles cans and music speakers, are booby-trapped with different munitions. A handful of Javellins sit in another corner while one worker takes a hammer to an artillery shell. In the heart of the factory is a well-oiled assembly line of nearly 50 soldiers working at separate stations. One cuts metal rods into shrapnel. Another station loads 3D-printed cartridges bound for FPV drones with the shrapnel. At a third station, men scoop vats of gunpowder into canisters.

Teaching the world to fight a modern war

From drones to repurposed grenades, technology is at the heart of Ivanych’s vision for Ukraine’s path to victory. “We shouldn’t fight meat for meat—we need to let technology do the fighting for us,” he says.

He believes Ukraine’s best minds should be left to create new and innovative solutions and utilize the country’s big startup scene. “It’s time to put them to work.” It’s worth noting that Ivanych himself goes by the call sign “Genius.”

With proper funding, Ivanych believes Ukraine could surpass even the most advanced weapons-manufacturing nations. “We can make better ammo for this war than the US, Israel, or the UK—if we had the money,” he says. He cites Ukraine’s weapons production during the Soviet Union but says that now, without a budget, they have been left with nothing. “Everyone’s waiting for an American miracle or some foreign savior,” he says, “but the truth is, we could do better ourselves.” He implores Western countries to invest in Ukrainian production, and they will see the results.

A personal war

For Ivanych, this war is deeply personal. Before 2014, he was a businessman who joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces when the war began to threaten his family’s safety. “I’ll never forgive the Russians for that,” he says. “If you have a family and kids and can’t protect them, then why the fuck were you born?” His words are matter-of-fact, offering insight into the sense of duty he feels all men should have to their country. “Russia thinks they can come here and tell me what to do, but they’re wrong.” He doubts that Russia is as strong as it says, claiming, “It’s bullshit. They will be beaten.”

Everyone’s waiting for an American miracle or some foreign savior, but the truth is, we could do better ourselves.

Ivanych

A new kind of warfare

This hidden factory is not just producing ammunition; it’s redefining modern warfare. The contrast between old and new is stark—defunct munitions being repurposed into cutting-edge solutions. Ukraine is teaching the world what it looks like to fight a modern war where classical artillery is quickly becoming a thing of the past in favor of drones and other unmanned weaponry. In the fight for survival, Ivanych and his team are proving that creativity, determination, and ingenuity can turn the tide of battle.