In brief

• Nova Post co-owner Viacheslav Klymov said the company has shot down Russian Shahed drones through its private air defense project.
• He did not disclose the number of drones downed.
• Klymov also described staff firefighting after Russian strikes and business interest in setting up firefighting services.
• As of September 16, 81 companies had authorized status for air defense measures, out of 92 applicants.

Private air defense takes shape

Nova Post is one of the few Ukrainian companies to have carried out a private air defense project, co-owner Viacheslav Klymov told the forum in Kyiv (Ukraińska poczta walczy z dronami z Rosji. Uruchomiła własny system obronny – Rzeczpospolita) ("Нова пошта" обзавелася власним ППО: компанія вже збиває "Шахеди" – UNIAN) («Нова пошта» створила власну ППО і вже збиває «Шахеди» – TSN). He said the company has downed Shahed drones but declined to disclose how many ("Нова пошта" створила власну ППО і вже збиває російські дрони – Espreso). Klymov argued that the country should keep developing private air defense, saying business can take on tasks that were considered the state's monopoly before the full-scale war (Нова пошта сбивает российские шахеды. Компания реализовала проект частной ПВО — совладелец – NV).

Firefighting by company staff

Klymov also said the company's employees often put out fires caused by Russian strikes on their own, before units of the State Emergency Service arrive. He added that large businesses are looking in Europe for fire engines so they can set up their own firefighting services. Under Ukrainian rules, companies may extinguish fires on their own property, he noted.

Wider business role in defense

The Ministry of Defense had granted 81 companies authorized status for air defense measures as of September 16, out of 92 that applied to join the project, according to figures cited in one report. Klymov's comments point to a broader shift in which private firms take on security and emergency tasks that the state once handled alone.