Shahedbusters Project: Lviv IT Cluster Procures Second Batch of Vehicles for Air Defense Forces

On February 26, the Air Command West received five pickups to protect the region’s critical infrastructure from enemy UAVs. This marks the second batch of vehicles provided by the Lviv IT Cluster community within the Shahedbusters project. This stage of the initiative was implemented with the support of 10 Lviv IT Cluster member companies.

In addition to vehicles, the military received thermal imagers, power banks, tablets, laser pointers, spotlights, portable charging stations, and binoculars. The total cost of the batch is over 5.7 million UAH.

“We reinforced this batch of vehicles with an innovation – installed an automated turret on one car. It can fire at aerial targets without direct human involvement. After the military tests the turret, we will purchase new systems and install them on all other vehicles procured within the initiative. Overall, the Lviv IT Cluster community has invested over 10 million UAH in the Shahedbusters project,” said Stepan Veselovskyi, CEO of the Lviv IT Clust

The Shahedbusters project is part of the Lviv Regional Military Administration’s initiative, involving the creation of 56 special mobile brigades to safeguard the region’s critical infrastructure from enemy drones.

“We thank the Lviv IT Cluster and all the companies that helped raise funds and procure vehicles. They will strengthen our air defense and increase the likelihood of intercepting all shaheds that approach the Lviv region,” said Oleksander Kulepin, Deputy Head of the Lviv Regional State Administration on Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitization at the Lviv Regional Military Administration.

“We are grateful to the Lviv IT Cluster community and the Lviv Regional Military Administration for their support. Mobile fire groups will use these vehicles and equipment to destroy Shaheds launched by the enemy. The first five cars delivered as part of the project are already on duty and protecting critical infrastructure objects of the region,” said Denys Levkovych, representative of the Air Command West.

This stage of the Shahedbusters project was supported by the following companies: Intellias, N-iX, PLVision, ZONE3000, EPAM, TechMagic, Linkup Studio, Abto Software, Yalantis, QubStudio.

“Our company funded the purchase of one car. We decided to join the project to support the Air Command West. Perhaps, thanks to this, we will be able to sleep more peacefully, and the enemy will understand that launching Shaheds against us is ineffective,” noted Andriy Sambir, CEO at Linkup Studio.

“Since the full-scale invasion began, it has become evident that the most sensible and promising investment is in the Armed Forces. Therefore, we actively participate in initiatives of the Lviv IT Cluster. We want to donate and participate in specific projects that help save lives,” said Olena Kozlova, co-founder and CEO of PLVision.

“This project not only helps increase the number of crews fighting shaheds in our region but also promotes the use of innovative solutions. That significantly increases the efficiency of our military in defending the sky. We plan to continue participating in such initiatives,” said Nazar Zhovtanetskyi, Chief Strategy Officer at N-iX.

“Our company actively participates in initiatives that help the military secure the sky. That is especially important in the face of constant air attacks by the enemy. The IT industry is a sector that supports developments and helps the Armed Forces become even more efficient. We want to be a part of this,” noted Viktoria Tomchynska, IT Recruitment Director at ZONE3000.

The idea of the project was inspired by the Ghostbusters film. The heroes united to protect their city from a previously unknown threat. Similarly, Ukrainian military personnel defend our country from enemy UAVs, and the Lviv IT Cluster supports them with technology and unconventional solutions. The total cost of the project is 30 million UAH.

On November 28, the Lviv IT Cluster community delivered the first five vehicles to the Air Force West procured as part of the Shahedbusters project. They are already helping to protect the critical infrastructure of the Lviv region from enemy UAVs.