Come Back Alive and OKKO fundraise over $8.5 mln for 25 SHARK intelligence drones

The Come Back Alive army competent aid fund and the OKKO oil company completed the fundraising of 325 million hryvnias (over $8.5 million) for 25 Shark air reconnaissance complexes for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The OKKO petrol station network and the fund's press service reported that fundraising has been ongoing since November 2022.

As part of the "Eye for Eye" initiative, OKKO transferred 1 hryvnia for "SHARKs" from each liter of Pulls brand fuel sold. Concerned Ukrainians also donated to the Come Back Alive special account.

"We did it. Thanks to each of the millions of Ukrainian drivers who joined the initiative. As a crowd, we could quickly accumulate the necessary amount for reconnaissance complexes to strengthen the army. We saw plus one new 'SHARK' on the counter every week," says OKKO CEO Vasyl Danyliak. "Your involvement and support are amazing. You motivate us not to stop. So, today we are summing up the results of one initiative, and tomorrow we will start a new, no less large-scale project to help the Armed Forces together with Come Back Alive and you."

Each of the 25 Shark complexes worth UAH 13 million includes:

• Torsus Terrastorm walk-behind car from Pulsar Expo equipped with a control point,
• launcher,
• Two UAVs from Ukrspecsystems, which have a wingspan of 3.4 m, the ability to work in the air for up to 4 hours, and resistance to EW devices.

The camera of these UAVs makes it possible to perform adaptive target tracking even at an object speed of 100 km/h.

As part of the initiative, they will also purchase 25 more reserve drones to replace them in time if they are lost or damaged during missions.

While the collection was ongoing, 25 crews were also being trained to control the UAV.

"Millions of Ukrainians have joined our project with OKKO to help the army, and we are grateful to everyone. The first one of the SHARK complexes is already sent to the Armed Forces. Soon, the remaining 24 will conduct surveillance along the entire front. They will track the enemy's movement and adjust artillery fire to a depth of 60 kilometers," says Taras Chmut, director of Come Back Alive. "This means that they will save the lives of our defenders and bring victory in the war with Russia closer. These mustn't be individual drones but self-sufficient, autonomous complexes in a four-wheel drive minibus specially developed by the fund's team for their work. This significantly increases the mobility and capabilities of the crews, making them safer." 

As Rubryka reported earlier, the Come Back Alive fund and OKKO gas station network started the fundraising to collect 325 million hryvnias.