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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Ukrainian servicemen received 626 ZIRKA interceptor drones with thermal imaging and automatic target designation, capable of destroying fast aerial targets.
The Serhiy Prytula Foundation handed over the 11-th National Guard of Ukraine brigade and the 412-th separate Nemesis unmanned systems drone interception unit 626 ZIRKA interceptor drones. The drones are equipped with thermal imaging cameras, automatic target detection and aiming systems. The total value of the delivered batch, together with three ground control stations, amounts to 51,8 million hryvnias.
This was announced by the press service of the Serhiy Prytula Foundation 2 on November 2026 of the year. The procurement was carried out within the charitable project "One Collection. Clean Sky".
In total, the 11-th brigade of the National Guard received 326 drones of ZIRKA and three ground control stations. Another 300 interceptors were handed over to the 412-th separate brigade of unmanned systems "Nemesis."
The new drones are intended to combat Russian strike drones, particularly fast-modified ones, which are becoming increasingly challenging targets for Ukrainian air defense.
"In October there were nights when the enemy launched more than 150 attack drones, and among them the missiles became more numerous. The 'Shahed' has become faster, so the interceptor must also be fast and see in the dark. 626 "Stars" with thermal imaging and auto-tracking we handed over precisely for this: the operator confirms the target, then the drone follows it on its own," said Bohdan Daniliv, head of the Foundation’s Military Department.
He also emphasized that in developing the technology they took into account the experience of service members who directly deal with intercepting enemy air targets.
The new drone has already intercepted a Russian "Geran-5".
Shortly after the transfer of the equipment, the crew of the "RETRO" Battalion Darknode 412-th Brigade "Nemesis" successfully used ZIRKA against the Russian drone-rocket "Geran-5".
According to the foundation, the enemy target was moving at a speed of about 400 km/h at an altitude of 3500 meters.
The video of the interceptor's combat use was released on the Serhiy Prytula Foundation's Telegram channel.
ZIRKA was developed with account of combat experience of the Darknode battalion. The unmanned vehicle can reach speeds over 410 km/h, rise to an altitude of up to six kilometers, and stay aloft for up to 20 minutes. Its range is up to 30 kilometers.
One of the interceptor's features is a machine vision system. It can recognize enemy drones at a distance of up to one kilometer. After the operator confirms the target, the system automatically tracks it.
In addition, ZIRKA is equipped with a thermal imaging camera on a servo, which allows detecting air targets and intercepting them at night.
About 1,25 billion hryvnias is being raised for interceptor drones.
The transfer of 626 drones was financed within the initiative "One Collection. Clean Sky," jointly implemented by the Serhiy Prytula Foundation, 412-th separate brigade of unmanned systems "Nemesis" and the World Ukrainian Congress.
The project goal is to raise 1,25 billion hryvnias to provide Ukrainian forces with interceptor drones.
According to organizers, from the start of the initiative the Defense Forces have already received equipment and other property valued at 690 533 120 hryvnias. Among the handed-over equipment is 4831 a drone of various types.
The Serhiy Prytula Foundation has been working with 2020 since year. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, the organization has attracted over 14 billion hryvnias to support Ukrainian servicemen.
The funds are directed toward purchasing drones, air defense systems, armored vehicles, communications equipment, and medical support. In addition to aid to the military, the foundation implements humanitarian and educational projects.
As a reminder, the Batallion Volunteer Foundation and MK Foundation handed over a minibus to the soldiers of the OMBR 157.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Фонд Притули передав військовим 626 дронів-перехоплювачів ZIRKA на 51,8 млн грн". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: StopKor.
