Ukraine Raising Funds to Acquire 100 Drone Boats for Guarding Grain Corridor

Ukraine is collecting funds to assemble world’s first fleet of 100-strong naval drones to protect grain corridor, a campaign President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supports.

"United24 fundraising platform launched the fundraising campaign for the world's first Ukrainian fleet of naval drones. We must defend the waters of our seas and peaceful cities from Russian missiles launched from ships," Zelensky posted on Facebook Friday.

He said these multipurpose drone boats would help the country’s navy unblock the corridor for civilian ships transporting grain for the world.

"I am sure that millions of people will support this important area of Ukraine’s defense. Everyone has already seen how it works. And this is only for our protection, we do not claim what’s not ours. Join us!" Zelensky said.

United24 aims to raise funds for first ten Kyiv-developed boats – each of which costs $250,000 – today. The price includes a drone equipped with an autopilot system, video subsystems, including night vision systems, special communications protected from the influence of hostile electronic warfare equipment, backup communication modules and a warhead, as well as a ground-based autonomous control station, transportation and storage systems, and a data center.