“Halabuda”: how volunteers from Mariupol repaired thousands of larger drones

What is the problem?

At the front lines, drones have become essential allies for Ukrainian defenders. They serve as the eyes of the military, enabling quick reconnaissance and allowing for swift responses to enemy movements. However, drones face constant wear and tear on the battlefield: they are shot down, damaged by debris, or simply exhausted from heavy use. With new drones being costly and difficult to procure in sufficient numbers, the challenge of maintaining a reliable fleet remains a significant concern.

What is the solution?

Repairing drones is far more cost-effective than purchasing new ones. In Cherkasy, the volunteer hub "Halabuda" from Mariupol offers free drone repairs for the army.

To understand how an educational space transformed into a drone workshop, the challenges faced by volunteers, and potential solutions, we spoke with Liudmyla Chychera, the co-founder of the "Halabuda" free space, coordinator of educational projects, and dedicated volunteer.

How does it work?

Liudmyla and Dmytro Chychera, originally from Mariupol, began their volunteer work in 2014 during the occupation of Crimea and Donbas. In 2016, alongside like-minded individuals and the "Eastern Gate" non-governmental organization, they founded the educational space "Halabuda" in their city.

"Halabuda" quickly became more than just a place for learning; it evolved into a platform for community engagement and dialogue with local authorities. The space hosted meetings with representatives of local government and patrol police, discussions on environmental issues, and a variety of educational courses in photography, computer literacy, and foreign languages. The hub also included a business school and organized cultural events. Education was provided for children and socially vulnerable groups free of charge, and supporting the Ukrainian military was a priority from the start.

When Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022, the "Halabuda" team quickly adapted, drawing on their experience from 2014. In the first days of the invasion, they organized one-day courses on first aid and launched efforts to collect essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and hygiene products. Partnering with local charities like Caritas Mariupol, the volunteers gathered humanitarian aid and delivered food and clothing to bomb shelters and basements where residents were taking refuge. They also set up a medical corner in "Halabuda" to provide primary care, staffed by medical volunteers. Working with the local bakery owners, they even baked bread outdoors and distributed it to the people of Mariupol.

As the situation in the city worsened, a part of the "Halabuda" team decided to leave for Zaporizhzhia to evacuate children and parents. They intended to return with humanitarian aid, but were unable to re-enter Mariupol. Dmytro Chychera, who stayed behind to continue helping the people of Mariupol, went missing on March 17, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

In Zaporizhzhia, the volunteer association continued its humanitarian efforts, and a new line of work emerged—drone repair for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Andrii Gezha, who later joined the military, began fixing drones for the military. The first drone repair took place back in Mariupol during the city's siege.

"We received a drone from the defense forces that needed repair, and our volunteer Andrii Gezha took on the task. He independently studied the drone's specifications and managed to bring it back to life, literally from scrap materials. And he even made it fly again!" says Liudmyla Chychera.

In Zaporizhzhia, the "Halabuda" team began receiving numerous requests for drone repairs from military contacts. They learned through experience, disassembling drones down to the smallest parts, while also seeking out more skilled technicians to help with the repairs.

Over time, the workshop gained experience and grew in scale, repairing up to 50 drones each month. However, in October 2023, after a projectile hit the building housing the "Halabuda" office, it became clear that continuing operations in Zaporizhzhia was too dangerous. This led to the third iteration of the hub, now relocated to Cherkasy.

"Throughout its history, 'Halabuda' has been involved in a wide range of projects. We taught photography and English, helped develop business ideas, and hosted literary evenings. But now, our primary focus is supporting the Armed Forces. We've carved out a niche in offering free drone repairs and assisting military personnel and their families. We may be small, but our results have made a big impact," says Liudmyla Chychera of "Halabuda."

Does it really work?

Today, the drone workshop at "Halabuda" receives most of its orders through word of mouth. Military personnel either ask for recommendations from those who have already been helped or find out about the workshop through social networks.

"Objectively, drones are indispensable now. But they don't last long at the front. Repairs are constantly needed, and it costs ten times less than buying new ones. That's why our work is so important," says Liudmyla Chichera.

"Halabuda" has calculated that it costs about $100 to repair a single drone, while the cheapest new Mavic drone costs roughly ten times more.

The success of the initiative is measured by the number of drones repaired. The workshop had a total of 552 drones repaired in 2023. In just nine months of 2024, they managed to repair 528 drones. This showcases not only the scale of the operation but also the significant savings for the army, as each repair costs a fraction of purchasing new drones.

The co-founder of the space explains that the most frequent damage to drones is from falls, resulting in broken beams, damaged camera stabilizers, and casing issues. The cost of repairs varies depending on the type of damage — sometimes, a simple software replacement can fix the issue with no additional costs, while other repairs can be much more expensive.

The time required for repairs also varies. Depending on the situation, it could take anywhere from one hour to several days to fix a drone. Experience is gained solely through practice. When a new problem arises, the team is quick to find creative solutions.

Recently, when there was a shortage of new beam motors in the workshop, master volunteer and veteran Volodymyr managed to repair 20 old beam motors, breathing new life into equipment that had seemed beyond repair at "Halabuda."

The hard work and the gratitude from the defenders are a great source of motivation for the volunteers of "Halabuda," but it's not without its emotional toll. Recently, three repaired drones, which were sent to the military, were tragically destroyed in a bombing at the New Post warehouse in Pokrovsk, targeted by Russian forces. It's also common that a person who sends a drone for repair may no longer be able to receive it — either due to injury or worse. Yet, despite the challenges, the volunteers at "Halabuda" emphasize the importance of continuing their work. They say they cannot stop, because the enemy is waiting for just that.

Unfortunately, repairing drones requires not only skilled hands and speed but also expensive equipment and a variety of spare parts, which the organization orders from AliExpress. According to Liudmyla Chychera, the workshop has to gather everything it needs piece by piece. This process is becoming increasingly difficult, as the quality of parts from China has deteriorated, with a rise in defective items. Despite this, the ingenuity of the volunteers has grown, and they are now able to perform a wider range of repairs.

"Our initiative is entirely funded through crowdfunding. We collect donations from regular citizens. We are constantly facing a shortage of funds, which makes it hard to quickly purchase the necessary spare parts and cover the costs of renting premises. Unfortunately, our attempts to cooperate with authorities or other organizations have not been successful," says the co-founder of "Halabuda".

Volunteers do not receive a salary for their work, nor do they accept any payment from the military. Instead, funds for spare parts are raised through the "Halabuda" Monobank bank account and Privat24.

Even more useful solutions!

As the "Halabuda" team describes it, "Halabuda" is not just a drone workshop or a free space. Above all, it represents a philosophy that fosters freedom of thought and action, all aimed at helping Ukraine. It brings together people from all walks of life — military and civilian, engineers and humanities scholars, children and adults.

Therefore, educational, entertainment, and support events continue to be organized in the hub, just as they were before the war. Here, they work with military families, youth, and children, many of whom are IDPs.

"Almost all members of the Halabuda team are from Mariupol, and for them, restoring justice, avenging their hometown, and addressing personal losses is a matter of honor. We all operate under the principle that if you're not at the front, then do your best in the rear and support the army. For me, our work is deeply personal. My husband, Dmytro Chychera, went missing in Mariupol in March 2022. My friends and I continue to believe in his return. We want to ensure that our work makes him proud, and that Dmytro will be happy to see that his legacy lives on," concludes Liudmyla Chychera.