Ukrainian civilians building drones to help out in the war
A Ukrainian couple have transformed their home into a drone-making centre to help in the ongoing war with Russia.
The small unmanned aerial vehicles have become central to modern-day conflict – and have proved to be incredibly effective for both sides.
Some are provided by private military companies, but many are commercially made and brought off shelves.
Last month, however, one of the largest suppliers, China, placed restrictions on exports, leading to a lack of availability.
That’s when Ukrainians Vera Volkova and Oleksandr Sierkov decided to step up and transform their one-bedroom apartment into a drone-making facility.
READ MORE: Kyiv communities devastated in ‘largest drone attack’ since start of war with Russia
Working together on their kitchen table, Oleksandr uses a 3D printer to create the flying vehicles, while Vera creates camouflage dressing.
The pair have given up their dreams of getting married in order to fund the project.
Oleksandr told CNN: “Instead of getting married and having a wedding we saved the money to start making drones.
“Now we are happy.”
Just yesterday, Russia launched its biggest drone attack on Kyiv since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Officials said more than 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones were fired at the capital – all but one were shot down.
With Russia’s dwindling missile stocks, Shahed drones are seen as a cheap alternative. They are slower than ballistic missiles and have a distinctive wingspan.
Since Vladimir Putin ordered his force to invade Ukraine last year, Russia has lost over a total of 322,900 fighters, 5,496 tanks and 7,833 artillery systems.
And on Friday, Ukraine announced that in just 24 hours Moscow lost 1,100 military personal and 30 tanks.
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Ukraine, too, has suffered great losses.
Kyiv gives no official toll of its war dead – stating that its war casualty numbers are a state secret.
But US officials, quoted by the New York Times, put the number at 70,000 dead and as many as 120,000 injured in August.
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