Ukrainian World Congress delivers 18 long-range UAV systems for Ukraine’s Defense Forces

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), as part of the ‘Unite with Ukraine’ initiative, has successfully procured and delivered nine ‘VALK-1 Galka’ unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UAVs) and nine VTOL UAVTEK ‘Babka’ UAV systems to three units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

The advanced systems, valued at $555,275.50 USD or 23 million Ukrainian Hryvnia, stand as a substantial contribution to Ukraine’s defense capabilities from the global Ukrainian community.

The 18 units were divided among three groups: the 420th Separate UAV Systems Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Special designation unit “Kryla” (Wings) of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR), and the volunteer UAV reconnaissance-strike unit “Barracuda.”

The “VALK-1 Galka” UAV is a tactical unmanned aviation system used for aerial reconnaissance, real-time video surveillance, and artillery fire correction. It operates reliably under various weather conditions, with a flight duration exceeding 150 minutes at a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The range of the telemetry and video signals is 45 km, and it features an automatic take-off and landing system for efficient deployment.

“The Ukrainian World Congress and the global Ukrainian diaspora steadfastly support Ukraine’s defenders. We consistently and regularly provide advanced technologies to enhance their capabilities in effectively combating the enemy and are committed to doing so until full and unequivocal Ukrainian victory,” stated Paul Grod, President of the UWC.

The VTOL “Babka” UAV is an extremely quiet drone with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, allowing it to perform missions lasting up to 180 minutes. It is specifically designed for covert operations, with the ability to remain practically invisible day and night. The “Babka” can fly at distances of up to 50 km using a sector antenna or up to 300 km with LTE connectivity, greatly enhancing its operational capacity. This drone also has high-resolution cameras that provide a strategic advantage on the battlefield through surveillance.

“These drones are crucial in enhancing Ukraine’s defense capabilities. We express heartfelt gratitude to our partners and donors for their continuous support, enabling us to equip the Ukrainian army with essential resources,” stated Andrew Potichnyj, Director of the “Unite with Ukraine” initiative.

“The Unite with Ukraine team truly understands the value of all forms of support. Today, they delivered equipment to three different groups, including one volunteer unit. The civilian sector stands behind our soldiers and volunteers, but resources are always scarce. While our foundation relies on pilots, leaders, organizers, and logistical support, we constantly face a shortage of material resources,” said Slava Balbek, a Ukrainian serviceman and an architect and designer in civilian life.

“We are deeply grateful for your support in this incredibly challenging fight. To put it in perspective, it’s like running an ultramarathon in Death Valley. We’ve already covered about 40 kilometers, but the toughest part is still ahead. I can’t overstate how crucial the equipment you’ve provided is, as we need these reserves every single day in our difficult conditions,” added Oleksa Koba, commander of a Separate UAV Systems unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Since February 2022, the “Unite with Ukraine” initiative has raised over 59.5 million USD from donors in more than 80 countries worldwide to support brigades of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Special Operations Forces, the National Guard of Ukraine, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, brigades of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the International Peacekeeping and Security Center in Yavoriv, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other Ukrainian security forces.