Private companies kick off operating air defence services in Ukraine

Private companies have begun providing limited air defence services in Ukraine for the first time, according to a report by Deutsche Welle, marking a new development in the country’s wartime defence structure.

One of the companies, Carmine Sky, has deployed systems equipped with large-calibre American-made machine guns and automated targeting technology across several regions. The company said its systems can independently detect and track aerial targets, while the decision to engage remains with a human operator who may be located remotely.

Carmine Sky claims its systems are used primarily to intercept Iranian-made Shahed-type drones, with reported effectiveness of up to 85%. The company said it has been operating since January 2026 after receiving government authorization.

Another firm, “Guard,” has also been granted a license to operate air defence-related services. The company uses interceptor drones to target and destroy aerial threats and says operator training takes approximately one month, with many personnel drawn from military veteran backgrounds.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence stressed that air defence remains under state control and is not being privatised. Instead, private firms are integrated into the broader national air defence network and assigned to protect specific infrastructure sites.

According to the report, permits have already been issued to 16 companies as Ukraine expands its layered air defence capacity amid continued aerial attacks.

By Sabina Mammadli