Vladyslav Voloshyn, head of one of the departments at the Central Directorate for Innovation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported this to Ukrinform.
“Today, companies representing private air defense units are already on combat duty and shooting down enemy targets, and as of now, more than fifty companies have joined this program. Private air defense fire teams have been deployed nearly 400 times and have shot down more than fifty aerial targets,” he said.
Voloshyn emphasized that integrating private companies into the system for defending Ukraine’s airspace has enabled stronger protection of critical infrastructure without compromising the state’s defense capabilities or drawing on Air Force units. In particular, a special information support system and a coordination council have been established to coordinate the work of private air defense units, and the units themselves receive the necessary information and operate as part of the state air defense system.
Read also: Air Defense Forces shoot down 114 Russian drones“The development of a private air defense system is a promising area, as it enables an asymmetric response to the threat of enemy air strikes. In addition, such a system allows interested companies to independently ensure the protection of their production facilities. Given the current situation, in which the enemy is increasingly attacking critical infrastructure and large warehouses near Kyiv, the private air defense system has significant potential. That is why we will continue to develop it,” he said.
As reported by Ukrinform, in June 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a pilot project to strengthen air defense by involving volunteer units from local communities.