China is also tightening controls on key raw materials, particularly rare-earth metals crucial for advanced drone technology.
By day, Andrii Tymofeiuk works as a business analyst, but by night, he transforms into a volunteer drone maker, crafting affordable devices to support Ukraine’s military. Since April 2024, he and a small group of volunteers have been crafting cost-effective drones to bolster Ukraine’s military.
These one-way devices, capable of carrying 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms) of explosives over a range of six to nine miles (10 to 15 kilometers), cost approximately $300 each to produce. This initiative represents a broader grassroots movement across Ukraine, relying on donations and sponsorships to sustain its operations.
“We don’t work with explosives because it’s dangerous for civilians. If someone wants to help the army with grenades, that’s a separate matter. Our role is to produce drones that can carry explosives and deliver them efficiently,” he tells Interesting …