More than 50 companies in Ukraine have already joined the private civil air defence system
Representatives of the General Staff spoke about this during a presentation on innovations within the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Air defence units are already carrying out missions at five of the group’s facilities. In the six months since the initiative began – up to 21 July – there have been 272 deployments of air defence units within the Air Defence Command’s areas of responsibility, with 38 targets destroyed.
“This enhances the capabilities of the Air Force. This is not a safari. This is a story about the integration of these units into our unified air defence system,” the military officials noted.
In total, the Ministry of Defence’s inter-agency commission considered applications from 63 companies; 54 were granted the relevant authorisations (two declined). One company is currently scheduled for review, whilst for six others, the draft commission order is undergoing approval.
Private air defence: what is known
In early March, the government amended the pilot scheme to involve enterprises in the state air defence system. Critical infrastructure enterprises will now be able to establish their own air defence units to protect their facilities.
The Ukrainian Air Force Command will be able to temporarily transfer air defence equipment and ammunition currently not in use by combat units to these enterprises. Replenishment of used ammunition will be carried out via a simplified procedure based on a report detailing actual expenditure.
At the same time, the air defence units at such facilities must meet the qualification requirements. To this end, personnel will undergo training and certification at institutions to be designated by the Ministry of Defence.
As early as 17 April, the Ministry of Defence reported that a private air defence unit had, for the first time, shot down a Russian ‘Shahed’ jet in the Kharkiv region, which was travelling at a speed of over 400 km/h.
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