Government approves the formation of Air Defense Groups within Volunteer Formations of Territorial Communities to counter strike drones

At its meeting on June 11, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a resolution launching a pilot project to establish Air Defense Groups (ADGs), which will be formed from members of Volunteer Formations of Territorial Communities (VFTCs). 

These groups will be primarily tasked with countering aerial threats, particularly enemy strike drones.

The Ministry of Defence, in coordination with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, developed the project in accordance with the decision of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Its key objective is to establish an effective mechanism for detecting, tracking, and neutralizing aerial threats, while also engaging trained and motivated citizens in air defense tasks in response to increasing enemy activity.

The Air Defense Groups will be formed according to territorial principles. They will be subordinated to the commanders of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and, in matters of air defense operations, to the Command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The ADGs will include volunteers who are exempt from mobilization and have completed the appropriate training. These personnel will be authorized to operate strike UAVs, manned aircraft, personal small arms, electronic warfare (EW) equipment, and artificial intelligence systems.

The document also stipulates the possibility of using privately owned manned aircraft within the Air Defense System. For the first time, the legal procedure for their engagement has been regulated: the procedures for temporary registration have been simplified, and the timeframe shortened to 10 days (previously, such registration took between 2 and 6 months for state-owned aircraft).

“Until now, there has been no legal basis for involving private aircraft in air defense tasks, despite patriotic citizens having long offered their equipment and participation in repelling enemy aerial attacks. This initiative will strengthen air defense capabilities given the enemy’s escalating use of strike UAVs,” said Rustem Umerov, Minister of Defence of Ukraine.

The project will be funded through the Ministry of Defense’s budget allocations, local budgets, contributions from citizens via the UNITED24 platform, and other sources permitted by law.

Members of the Air Defense Groups will be entitled to the same social guarantees as military personnel, including service remuneration, benefits, and insurance payments.

The implementation of this project will significantly strengthen territorial air defense, increase combat readiness, and improve the flexibility of responses to aerial threats.