Ukrainian steelmaker Metinvest Group has presented 100 DJI Mavic 3 drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), as part of Rinat Akhmetov's Steel Front military initiative.
Metinvest is an integrated group of steel and mining companies, which manages every link of the value chain, from mining and processing iron ore and coal to making and selling semi-finished and finished steel products across steel and mining production facilities.
A large batch of reconnaissance equipment will go to the AFU’s ground forces and will be sent to the eastern and southern areas of the front, especially to the hottest spots, including Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Vuhledar. The total cost of the equipment from Metinvest is more than UAH 10 million ($270,000).
The transfer of so many unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the AFU at one time is a record for Metinvest. Since 24 February 2022, the company has delivered over 1,100 drones to various units of Ukraine’s defence forces.
The DJI Mavic 3 Fly More Combo is the most popular and requested drone model in the ranks of the AFU. According to Metinvest, they help detect and destroy the enemy on the front line. The UAV, which has the most extensive available package with an additional set of batteries, is used for reconnaissance and fire correction. The competitive advantage of this model, it is claimed, is its excellent optics and navigation.
“We understand that drones are an essential part of the AFU’s tactics, both when defending Ukrainian territory from the invasion and when counterattacking against the aggressor. "
Oleg Matvienko, head of military security at Metinvest Group.
“We understand that drones are an essential part of the AFU’s tactics, both when defending Ukrainian territory from the invasion and when counterattacking against the aggressor. UAVs, such as the DJI Mavic 3, are the ‘eyes’ of Ukrainian soldiers and they are quality reconnaissance devices that save lives. But, unfortunately, drones are also expendable on the front lines. That is why, since the beginning of the war, Metinvest Group, as part of Rinat Akhmetov's Steel Front military initiative, has focused on providing a continuous supply of drones for the AFU. I would note that no one from the private sector supplies the army with such a quantity of vehicles – more than 1,100 drones. Metinvest will, therefore, continue to provide drones to the AFU until the victory is achieved,” noted Oleg Matvienko, head of military security at Metinvest Group.
The supply of UAVs to the Ukrainian armed forces is one of the pillars of resistance against the aggressor. The combination of reconnaissance and fire correction functions allows the use of drones in various modern military operations.
“Drones are lightweight, mobile vehicles that are difficult for the enemy to detect with their existing equipment."
Andrei Redozubov, captain of the AFU Ground Forces.
“Drones are lightweight, mobile vehicles that are difficult for the enemy to detect with their existing equipment. They are in demand among members of the military during high-intensity combat operations, so this batch will be very useful for several army units that are performing tasks in the southern and eastern directions, including Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Vuhledar. Some of the drones will also go to the defence forces that are defending the capital of Ukraine. I would like to note that Metinvest has not only allocated funds, but has also undertaken the tasks of organisation, logistics, location and delivery of these scarce devices. This is a significant amount of work that greatly facilitates the work of the armed forces and allows us to focus on countering the aggressor,” said Andrei Redozubov, captain of the AFU Ground Forces.
Metinvest Group has supported the army with donations of more than UAH 1.5 billion (US$41 million) since the beginning of the full-scale war. In addition to drones, the steelmaker also supplies the AFU, National Guard, Defence Intelligence and other national defence forces with equipment, including over 150,000 sets of body armour, thermal imagers, vehicles, special mobile shelters and other gear that help to resist the aggressor.