Speed over 410 km/h and thermal imagers: the military received 626 ZIRKA interceptors from the Prytula Foundation

The Serhiy Prytula Foundation handed over 11-brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine and 412-separate brigade of unmanned systems “Nemesis” 626 ZIRKA interceptor drones. The drones are equipped with thermal imaging cameras, automatic target detection and guidance systems. The total value of the dispatched batch, including three ground control points, is 51,8 million UAH.

This was announced by the Prytula Foundation’s press service 2 on November 2026 of the year. The purchase was made within the charitable project “Unified Harvest. Clean Sky.”.

In total, the 11-th brigade of the National Guard received 326 ZIRKA drones and three ground control points. Another 300 interceptor drones were handed over to the 412-th separate brigade of unmanned systems “Nemesis.”

The new drones are intended to combat Russian strike drones, in particular fast-modified ones that are becoming increasingly challenging targets for Ukrainian air defense.

“In October there were nights when the enemy launched more than 150 strike drones, and among them jet-propelled ones are increasing. The “Shahed” has become faster, so the interceptor must be fast and capable of seeing in the dark. 626 The “Stars” with thermal imaging and autonomous guidance we handed over exactly for this: the operator confirms the target, then the drone tracks it on its own,” said Bohdan Danylov, head of the military department of the Prytula Foundation.

He also emphasized that in developing the technology they took into account the experience of service members who directly engage in intercepting enemy air targets.

The new drone has already intercepted Russia’s “Geran-5.”

Soon after the handover, the crew “RETRO” of the Darknode battalion 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 combat use of the interceptor was released in the Serhiy Prytula Foundation’s Telegram channel.

ZIRKA was developed with consideration of combat experience of the Darknode battalion. The drone is capable of speeds over 410 km/h, rising to an altitude of up to six kilometers and staying in the air for up to 20 minutes. Its operating radius is up to 30 kilometers.

One of the interceptor’s features is a machine vision system. It can recognize enemy drones at distances up to one kilometer. After the operator confirms the target, the system automatically accompanies it.

In addition, ZIRKA is equipped with a heat-imaging camera on a servo that allows detecting aerial targets and intercepting them in the dark.

Up to 1,25 billion UAH is allocated for the interceptor drones.

The delivery of 626 drones was funded within the “Unified Harvest. Clean Sky” initiative, jointly implemented by the Serhiy Prytula Foundation, 412-brigade of unmanned systems “Nemesis” and the World Congress of Ukrainians.

The project’s goal is to raise 1,25 billion UAH to supply Ukrainian troops with interceptor drones.

According to the organizers, since the initiative’s start, the Armed Forces have already received equipment and other property totaling 690 533 120 UAH. Among the delivered equipment is 4831 drones of various types.

The Serhiy Prytula Foundation has been operating since 2020. Since the full-scale Russian invasion began, the organization has raised more than 14 billion UAH to support Ukrainian forces.

The funds are directed toward purchasing drones, air defense systems, armored vehicles, communications equipment, and medical supplies. In addition to military aid, the foundation runs humanitarian and educational projects.

Recall that the Batallion Volunteer Foundation and MK Foundation handed over a minibus to the fighters of the 157 Mechanized Brigade.