Let’s say you’re a businessman in Ukraine. You’re keen on doing business here because it’s easier than, say, in Germany (yes, it is). The only problem is having Russia as a neighbor that launches Shahed drones almost daily.
Many of them hit and damage or destroy warehouses and various industrial sites, such as Nova Poshta facilities, an American-owned factory in the far western part of Ukraine, or a food warehouse owned by Silpo, my favorite supermarket chain.
You obviously don’t want that for your business. The newest option I know of is private air defense. These companies started operating this March. Something similar existed earlier, but now it’s official—though still somewhat experimental, according to the Ministry of Defense.
A company receives the status of an authorized entity, forms mobile units, undergoes training, and is issued weapons from the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the duration of its work.
The air defense typically consists of stationary towers with large-caliber machine guns mounted near the protected facility, along with a remote control center for operating these turrets. Operators use standard gaming joysticks to control the automated systems—pressing a button is enough to engage an aerial target.
There are currently 13 companies operating as private air defense providers. For example, Carmine Sky has been working on the project since January 2026 in the Kharkiv region. During this time, the company has addressed both technical aspects—such as fine-tuning equipment—and legal issues. “We had to figure out how to structure contracts, how to account for weapons on the balance sheet, and how to write off ammunition,” the company’s founder said.
As of March 2026, Carmine Sky has achieved an interception rate of 85%. Their primary system is the Sky Sentinel turret, equipped with Browning M2 machine guns. They have also started deploying interceptors, incorporating their own know-how.
How much does it cost? Carmine Sky says it’s around 20,000,000 UAH, or roughly half a million dollars.
But what if you don’t want all that shooting around your facility? Maybe it’s not in an open field, and there are other buildings and people nearby that you don’t want to endanger or disturb. In that case, you might consider jammers.
This is another experimental approach, where private companies invest in their own security rather than relying solely on general air defense or luck. Again, you purchase the equipment, and the military operates it. It’s important not to use it without their consent; otherwise, air defense units may be unable to launch interceptors during a Russian attack—and they won’t be happy about it. Don’t mess with the Ukrainian military.
A jammer system is much cheaper than a full air defense setup and can cost up to one million UAH.
It depends on your business, of course, but spending money on defense is likely easier than dealing with the consequences of a successful Shahed strike.
By the way, now businesses (and state-owned enterprises) can submit claims to the International Register of Damages for losses caused by Russian aggression. Previously, this option was available only to individuals. This is not only an opportunity to document the damage caused by the war and later receive compensation, but also a reference point for the state, on the basis of which various support programs for such businesses can be developed.
Keep calm and stand with Ukraine.