The special military operation in Ukraine is the first major conflict between developed nations in the 21st century where a full range of modern weapon systems are used. This conflict is a great challenge for the EU security and also its member states defence industry; therefore, it is important to understand how the EU defence industry can respond to this challenge. Moreover, the issue of how the EU can continue the support of Ukraine in the military sphere should be analyzed because it is crucial for the further development of Russia's special military operation strategy. Thus far these questions are of limited coverage in articles of Russian or foreign researchers. The main sources of this research are analytics from mass media, official documents of the EU, NATO, and the EU officials statements and statistics from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. The present research is based on a complex analysis of the above-mentioned information. The EU and its members took some actions to support Ukraine: supply of weapons, launch of corresponding programs, production increase, etc. The amount of support on November 2022 was calculated to be around 8 billion euros. In addition to the supply of weapons to Ukraine that mainly come from the states' armed forces arsenals, it is necessary for the EU states to enhance their own military capabilities. The current situation gives opportunities for the development of the EU states defence industry and the EU integration in this sphere. Weapon systems produced in the EU can be tested in a real battlefield condition and modernized according to new standards. Efficient support of Ukraine requires more cooperation in the EU defence industry and in the EU in general. Further supplies allow the member states to modernize their armed forces as old equipment supplied to Ukraine should be replaced by modern systems. In this case the EU defence industry can get advantage from this situation, but only if the replacement would be of the EU production. The EU can continue the support of Ukraine. There are capabilities for the supplies of weapons from stocks and also of new equipment, but the volume of the latter is limited because the EU defence industry is only adapting to the increased demand and the supplies should not affect the EU military power. The EU is interested in the support of Ukraine as it corresponds with its security and defence policy. Only the great advantage of Russia over Ukraine can stop it.
