On March 30, 2026, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that Carmine Sky, a private company, downed Russian Shahed and Zala drones over the Kharkiv region using the Sky Sentinel autonomous anti-aircraft turret. The system, backed by UNITED24, operates under the Ukrainian Air Force’s unified command-and-control structure.
Fedorov stated: “Private air defense working. First Shahed & Zala drones downed in Kharkiv by a private firm. 13 more companies joining. Integrated with Air Force command to scale protection without burdening the front.” This marks the operational debut of an experimental program approved in November 2025, allowing critical infrastructure operators to form air defense units with ministry-approved weapons.
Sky Sentinel, a Ukrainian-made, radar-synchronized, trailer-mounted SHORAD turret, uses AI to automatically detect, track, and engage Shahed drones, smaller UAVs, and potentially cruise missiles. UNITED24’s campaign raised $3.3 million for the system, part of broader Sky Defense efforts to counter mass drone attacks.
Three days prior, Fedorov demonstrated the turret to Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas, highlighting Ukraine’s evolving air-defense architecture. Amid sustained pressure—Ukraine downed 150 of 164 drones overnight before the announcement—these private units bolster low-altitude protection in exposed areas like Kharkiv without diverting frontline assets. Thirteen additional enterprises are forming similar groups at varying readiness stages, expanding capacity through private sector integration.
The initiative addresses dual demands since Russia’s full-scale invasion: shielding frontlines from strikes while defending rear areas from low-cost drones, preserving premium interceptors.