Cabinet of Ministers allows businesses to protect third-party assets under private air defence

The Cabinet of Ministers has expanded business opportunities in the field of air defence. From now on, enterprises participating in the experimental project are entitled to protect not only their own assets but also the infrastructure of other companies, provided a corresponding contract is concluded between them.

Six key changes to the rules of the game

The decision to improve the mechanism for the operation of private air defence groups was adopted at a government meeting at the initiative of the Ministry of Defence. These measures are aimed at strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure against the backdrop of increasing intensity of Russian air raids. The government approved the following list of innovations:

1. Protection of other companies' assets is permitted on the basis of a contract.
2. Authorised enterprises will be able to transfer air defence equipment to one another for use, subject to a joint decision with the Air Force command.
3. Admission criteria have been expanded: residents of Defence City and/or companies designated as critically important by the Ministry of Defence may now join the project.
4. The use of manned aircraft is permitted within air defence groups.
5. The use of interceptor drones has been regulated and expanded, specifically regarding the application of warheads and electric detonators.
6. The minimum age of participants in private air defence groups has been reduced from 21 to 18 years.

Control and scaling of protection

It is important to note that private air defence remains under the control of military command. Its activities are integrated into the unified air defence system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The experimental project is based on Resolution No. 1506 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 19 November 2025. It enables enterprises to additionally protect their employees, production facilities, and energy assets, which regularly come under attack by Russian unmanned aerial vehicles.

The introduced changes are expected to allow for the faster scaling of air defence capabilities without placing additional strain on the air defence units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine.