Kharkiv, Ukraine. Ukraine is rolling out private air defence companies as part of a new line of defence to protect businesses and critical infrastructure from Russian drone attacks. A pilot programme launched last year allows industrial firms to establish air defence groups to guard their facilities.
Pilot programme and authorisation
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said 20 companies have registered in the pilot programme, with two already offering air defence operations. The firms must receive authorisation from the Ministry of Defence before starting operations and are incorporated into the Ukrainian air force’s command-and-control system.
Carmine Sky operations and equipment
Carmine Sky, one of the registered companies, said it deploys multiple layers of protection depending on client needs, including interceptor drones and automated turrets armed with M2 Browning heavy machine guns. A company representative who gave only his first name, Ruslan, described the approach as layered “like an onion.”
Scale of drone attacks and impact
Russia launches thousands of low-cost, long-range attack drones at Ukraine every month. While most are intercepted, those that get through have damaged military infrastructure, factories and energy facilities, depriving millions of heating and lighting last winter.
Coordination with state air defence
Ruslan said Carmine Sky operates in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region as well as other regions, without specifying which, and declined to identify clients. He said private firms complement state air defence, which he described as having a strategic role, while private operators focus locally.
Command-and-control decisions
Ruslan said decisions on targets and whether to open fire are made solely by the Ukrainian air force. He said the private company cannot make those decisions independently.
How do you think Ukraine’s pilot programme for private air defence companies could affect protection of local infrastructure?