Kovlar Group, a manufacturer of passive fire protection products in Ukraine, is studying the European market but focusing on creating products for the domestic market, said Konstantin Kalafat, director of Kovlar Group LLC, in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“We are actively studying the European market and working on harmonizing technical documentation and conformity assessment procedures. As for exports, this is a challenge, because the European market for niche products such as ours is already established, and consumers prefer more stable solutions when it comes to safety, so it is difficult to find customers,” he said.
According to him, the main obstacle to rapid entry into EU markets is currently the complexity of certification procedures in the context of the war—foreign auditors and technical experts are not always able to come to Ukraine to conduct the necessary audits and technical inspections. However, entry into European markets remains part of the company’s strategic plans.
At the same time, Kovlar Group’s products are competitive in terms of quality and cost. “Fire protection is a high-tech and knowledge-intensive industry where proven characteristics are crucial. Over the past 10 years, the requirements for thin-layer fire protection coatings have doubled due to the need to ensure the stability of metal structures during a fire – from 90 to 180 minutes, and we are trying to keep up with this trend. In terms of certain parameters – system efficiency, optimal layer thickness, and stability of results – some of our solutions are on par with, and sometimes even surpass, their European counterparts,” Kalafat emphasized.
Currently, the company’s priority is the domestic market, especially given the growing demand for Ukrainian materials in connection with large-scale restoration and reconstruction programs.
“In this context, our advantage over imports is obvious: short logistics, prompt delivery, the ability to quickly respond to changes in project decisions, instantly provide technical advice, and visit sites. During wartime and the post-war period, the speed of engineering decisions and stability of supply are often critical.
We hope that with the end of military risks, the quality of the implemented projects will become an additional argument for the effective realization of the export potential of Ukrainian passive fire protection systems,” he says. Kovlar Group LLC was founded in 2015 in Kyiv and is the largest manufacturer of passive fire protection equipment in Ukraine.
According to OpenDataBot, the company’s authorized capital is UAH 1.2 million, and its ultimate beneficiaries are Kostyantyn Kalafat (40%), Andriy Ozeychuk (35%), and Lyubov Vakhitova (25%). The company’s revenue for 2024 was UAH 91.3705 million, which is twice as much as in 2023, and its net profit was UAH 13.4 million, which is 1.7 times more than in 2023. In the first quarter of 2025, the company’s revenue was UAH 13.5 million, with a net income of UAH 1,983,000.
The Ukrainian Fire and Technological Safety Union, as a nationwide professional public organization that brings together experts, manufacturers, designers, and specialists in the field of fire and industrial safety, officially declares its support for Kovlar Group LLC in connection with the dissemination of information that shows signs of manipulation and damages the business reputation of the company and the industry as a whole.
Kovlar Group LLC is a member of the Union and actively participates in the organization’s professional activities aimed at improving fire safety in Ukraine. The company’s director, Konstantin Kalafat, heads the specialized committee on fire protection, which testifies to his expertise and professional authority among industry representatives.
We are confident in his clear pro-Ukrainian position, dedication to the state, and profession. Over many years of activity, particularly in the context of full-scale war, he has consistently demonstrated civic responsibility, support for the Ukrainian industry, and active participation in professional and public initiatives. In the professional community, Kostyantyn Kalafat is known as a principled specialist, patriot, and person dedicated to the development of the Ukrainian fire safety sector.
The company’s activities in the field of development and application of fire protection materials are carried out within the framework of current legislation, in compliance with the requirements of regulatory and legal acts and industry standards. The company cooperates systematically with the professional community and is open to expert dialogue.
We emphasize that the dissemination of unverified, distorted, or manipulative information harms not only individual businesses but also overall confidence in the fire safety market and Ukrainian manufacturers.
The Ukrainian Union of Fire and Technogenic Safety calls on media representatives and the public to adhere to the principles of objectivity and fact-checking. If necessary, the Union is ready to provide professional explanations and reserves the right to appeal to the competent authorities to protect the legitimate interests of our organization’s members.
The All-Ukrainian Public Organization “Ukrainian Union of Fire and Technogenic Safety” (USFTS) was established in 2004. Until July 30, 2010, the organization was called the “Ukrainian Union of Manufacturers of Fire Protection Products and Services.” The USFBS was registered by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on October 19, 2004, under No. 2163.
The USFBS consists mainly of collective members, i.e., labor collectives of enterprises, institutions, and organizations, and individual members, i.e., individuals working in the field of fire and man-made safety.
The main goal of the organization is to carry out activities aimed at improving the environmental situation by promoting the development and implementation of means and methods of fire protection and man-made safety, protecting the domestic market for fire and man-made safety products, and the common interests of its members.
Ukrainian manufacturer of passive fire protection products Kovlar Group LLC (TM Ammokote) reported an attempt to resume a smear campaign against the company and emphasized its readiness to defend its business reputation within the legal framework.
“On February 18, 2026, we received a journalist’s request, the content of which, in our opinion, indicates an attempt to repeat the discrediting campaign. We regard this as an element of unfair competition and pressure on a Ukrainian manufacturer that is involved in the supply of fire-resistant materials, including to energy infrastructure facilities,” the company said in a public statement.
Kovlar Group recalled that in August 2024, the company had already faced a large-scale information attack. At that time, according to the company, it chose the legal route of protection and appealed to the court, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, the National Police, the Ministry of Justice, and financial monitoring authorities. “Based on the results of the inspections, we received official confirmation that the company and its management operate in accordance with Ukrainian law, are not subject to sanctions, and have no restrictions on their economic activities,” the statement said.
The company emphasized that Ammokote products are manufactured in accordance with current regulations, and that the technical and licensing documentation is valid and meets all regulatory requirements. Kovlar Group also states that it is operating as usual and fulfilling its obligations to partners and customers.
Separately, Kovlar Group appealed to editors and journalists to prepare materials more carefully, not to use unverified information, and to obtain the company’s position before publication. “We work openly and are always ready to interact with the media—providing comments, documents, and explanations in response to requests,” the statement said.
Media contacts: info@kovlargroup.com, +38 067 323 24 30.
Kovlar Group LLC is a Ukrainian manufacturer operating in the fire safety market. It produces passive fire protection products under the Ammokote trademark and provides consulting services on the organization of fire protection works for building structures and engineering systems.
Address: 10-G Starokyivska St., Kyiv, 04116
Ukrainian fireproof materials manufacturer Kovlar Group LLC (Kyiv) considers the information attack on the company to be an element of unfair competition.
“Against the backdrop of high-profile corruption scandals related to procurement for Ukraine’s energy sector and Kovlar Group LLC’s offer of Ukrainian-made fire-retardant materials at prices significantly lower than those of the winners of state tenders, we consider such actions to be an element of discrediting the Ukrainian manufacturer and unfair competition,” the company said in a statement posted on its website.
The company received a journalist’s request (dated February 18, 2026), the content of which indicates an attempt to repeat the information discrediting campaign, as in the summer of 2025.
In August 2024, a large-scale information attack was carried out against Kovlar Group, accompanied by commissioned publications of similar materials in a number of media outlets. Their goal was to discredit the company during its active participation in state tenders for the protection of energy infrastructure facilities.
At that time, the company chose the legal route of defense: it appealed to the court, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, the National Police, the Ministry of Justice, and financial monitoring authorities. As a result of the inspections, official confirmation was received: the company and its founders operate in accordance with Ukrainian law, are not subject to sanctions, and have no restrictions on their economic activities.
Currently, Kovlar Group LLC continues to operate as usual, fulfills its contractual obligations, and develops production, emphasizing that all products under the Ammokote trademark are manufactured in accordance with current regulatory documents, and that the technical and licensing documentation is valid and complies with regulatory requirements.
“The company operates openly, professionally, and within the framework of current legislation. Participation in government tenders is carried out on a competitive basis. The company is a conscientious taxpayer and has a high level of tax discipline. The company has already proven the groundlessness of previous accusations in the legal field, so we are confident that this time the truth will be on our side,” the statement said.
Kovlar Group LLC was founded in 2015. It is the largest manufacturer of passive fire protection products in Ukraine.
According to OpenDataBot, the company’s authorized capital is UAH 1.2 million. The ultimate beneficiaries are Konstantin Kalafat (40% of shares), Andriy Ozeychuk (35%), and Lyubov Vakhitova (25%).
discrediting, fire protection material, information attack, Kovlar Group, OZEYCHUK, Калафат
The Ukrainian company Kovlar Group (Kovlar Group, Ammokote TM) announced its participation in the first meeting of the Verkhovna Rada working group on the application and development of legislation in the field of construction products on the market, which took place on February 16 in the format of a video conference.
According to the parliament’s announcement, the working group operates under the Committee on State Administration, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning and was created to develop solutions for the implementation of the new EU Regulation 2024/3110, which establishes uniform rules for the admission of construction materials to the market.
The first meeting discussed issues related to the official translation of the Regulation, analysis of its provisions, and preparation of a “road map” of changes for various types of construction products, as well as a review of approaches to conformity assessment and strengthening of product quality control in the domestic market.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee previously reported that the working group on construction products was headed by Committee Chair Olena Shulyak, and that members of parliament, government officials, and relevant experts were to be involved in the work.
Kovlar Group is a Ukrainian company that manufactures passive fire protection products; it works, in particular, with Ammokote brand products and is a leader in its market. Representatives of the company participate in the work of technical committees on standardization in the field of fire safety and protection of buildings and structures.
Kovlar Group LLC was founded in 2015 with a registered capital of UAH 1.2 million. Its founders and ultimate beneficiaries are Kostyantyn Kalafat (40%), Andriy Ozeychuk (35%), and Lyubov Vakhitova (25%). According to OpenDataBot, the company earned UAH 46,980,400 in revenue and UAH 6,109,800 in net profit in the first three quarters of 2025.
The Ukrainian passive fire protection market in 2025, according to preliminary estimates, is worth $8-12 million, with the share of imported materials falling from 80% in 2016 to 17% in 2025, according to the Experts Club analytical centre.
‘Local production reduces costs compared to imported counterparts, which is especially important for large-scale restoration projects,’ said Konstantin Kalafat, co-owner and director of Kovlar Group, quoted in the article.
According to an analytical study by the Ukrainian manufacturer of passive fire protection products, Kovlar Group, based on the interim results of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, provided that the hostilities end, the market could grow to $25 million by 2026. It is expected that the demand structure will be dominated by specialised fire-retardant paints (70-80%), fire-retardant plasters and slabs – 5-10%; passage sealing and communication protection systems – 5-10%; ventilation, smoke ducts and wood protection products – about 5%. An additional driver may be the growing demand for epoxy and polyurethane fire protection systems for oil and gas infrastructure, energy and strategic facilities – a segment that was previously limited by the high cost of imported analogues.
Experts Club notes that against the backdrop of war and logistical constraints, import substitution continues, and in 2025, Ukrainian manufacturers and international brands were simultaneously present on the market through suppliers and certified systems, in particular Ammokote, Hensotherm, Defens, Promapaint, and Steelguard. The leader of the segment in public estimates is Kovlar Group, which claims a share of about 65% of the Ukrainian fire protection materials market and a portfolio of more than 25 items of fire protection products and related materials; other notable Ukrainian manufacturers include Kapitel Dnipro and NVP Spetsmaterialy.
EXPERTS CLUB, fire protection material, Kovlar Group, Калафат
