Ukrainian volunteers develop devices for rapid weapon loading

Volunteers from the NGO "Let's Reclaim Our History" are producing rapid-loading devices for Ukrainian soldiers' weapons. These devices are made of plastic by a 3D printer.

The co-founders of the NGO, Oleksandr Bielskyi and Oleksandr Antybys, shared details about the production, the device necessity, and future plans for the "Ukrainian Radio. Chernihiv" program, Rubryka reports.

What's the problem?

Ukrainian soldiers have been repelling the Russian invasion for over two years, and Russian forces continue their assault on the Ukrainian positions.

Troops typically charge their weapons manually, which not only wears out their hands but also consumes a lot of time. Time is crucial during warfare.

What's the solution?

Volunteers from Chernihiv's NGO "Let's Reclaim Our History" are producing rapid charging devices for the military. These devices, made of plastic, are produced with a 3D printer.

According to the volunteers, the mechanism attaches to the rifle magazine and can charge it with bullets with a single press, significantly speeding up the process.

How does it work?

It takes about three hours to produce one device, and they can make up to five such mechanisms per day.

"When we started making these mechanisms, we gave them to the military for testing. They really liked them and kept asking for more," said Bielskyi.

One needs plastic printing filament, which is loaded into the printer, to manufacture these devices.

"People usually charge their weapons manually, which is tiresome and time-consuming. Thanks to this mechanism, the magazine can be charged very quickly. When we came up with the idea to produce these mechanisms, we immediately bought a printer to help the Armed Forces. Nowadays, every conscious person wants to assist the army," said Bielskyi.

The volunteers also plan to produce plastic parts for drones.

"We want to assemble drone frames and propellers. There are many things our military needs made of plastic," Bielskyi added.

About the NGO "Let's Reclaim Our History"

This civic organization was registered in Chernihiv on May 17, 2022. Volunteers provide assistance not only to the military but also to civilians, according to Oleksandr Antybys.

"We have been providing assistance since the first days of the full-scale invasion, helping in various ways. Initially, it was humanitarian aid to civilians, then assistance to the military. We purchase and deliver vehicles and military ammunition. We assist various units, not necessarily from Chernihiv," Antybys said.

Currently, the organization receives many requests from the military. When necessary, they organize fundraising campaigns.

"We also have a memorandum signed with the Chernihiv Regional Center for War Veterans, where we send soldiers in need of rehabilitation. We also assist civilians in providing humanitarian aid from foreign NGOs," Antybys added.

Earlier, Rubryka reported on radio-electronic warfare production in the Ivano-Frankivsk region established by soldiers and volunteers. They assemble and test electronic warfare systems in a workshop for almost a year and then send them to the front lines.

It was also reported that volunteers in Cherkasy repair drones sent for restoration by the military. Over the past year, they have repaired half a thousand drones.

Rubryka wrote about the "FrontPower" project, which brings together youth once a week to recycle used e-cigarettes into power banks. Over 50 devices have been made so far, and over 8,000 electronic cigarettes are used. These smoking tools get a second life and help soldiers on the front line instead of ending up in the trash.