“Dronefall” Achieves 10,000 Drones — Ten Times the Original Goal

The Dronefall project has hit a major milestone: 10,000 downed drones—ten times its initial target. That’s how many Russian UAVs have been intercepted by Dronefall crews. When the project launched in August 2024, the Come Back Alive Foundation aimed to take down at least 1,000 drones. Over the past year and a half, the project has grown in scale, pace, and impact on Ukraine’s skies.

From the beginning, Dronefall units focused on reconnaissance drones, later moving on to strike UAVs, including Shahed drones and their jet-powered variants. The busiest period was September to November 2025, when crews intercepted dozens of targets in a single night.

Dronefall’s impact is clear in Ukraine’s overall air defense statistics:

• 5% of all Shahed and Geran drones downed in September;
• 12% of all Shahed drones were downed in October (excluding Geran).

In other words, in October 2025, every eighth strike drone shot down was thanks to Dronefall.

Some FPV teams also neutralized high-value targets, such as Russian Merlin-VR reconnaissance drones, each worth over $300,000.

“What makes Dronefall unique is its focus on results, not fundraising totals or equipment numbers. Our initial goal was 1,000 drones—and we hit that in six months. The second thousand took just three months, and with each phase, the pace doubled. We achieved this by scaling interception practices—both with new units and by enhancing those already participating. To reach 10,000 interceptions, we equipped 100 Defense Forces units with the necessary drones, vehicles, and equipment,” says Taras Tymochko, Head of the Dronefall project.

Dronefall’s success shows that Ukraine can better protect the skies—over troops at the front, logistics in the rear, strategic facilities, and civilians deep in the country—during the war in which Russia attacked Ukraine.

Who Leads Dronefall: Internal Rankings

Dronefall introduced an internal leaderboard, the Dronefall League, where units compete for top intercept results. Each month, the best-performing units receive equipment, tools, and resources that boost mobility and combat effectiveness.

Top 5 units overall:

• 39th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
• 38th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
• 3rd Separate Assault Brigade
• 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade
• 1129th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
  

Behind the Numbers

Dronefall is more than buying FPV drones—it’s a full ecosystem for FPV interceptors. The project provides the military with:

• FPV interceptor drones for taking down enemy UAVs. These high-speed, upgraded drones are the core of Dronefall. Compared to jet or missile-based air defense, FPV drones are cheaper and faster;
• Pickup trucks and specialized vehicles for mobility and rapid redeployment;
• Optics, radios, and power supplies for reliable communications and target tracking;
• Operator training, since FPV interception is highly precise and complex;
• Logistical and technical support, ensuring timely delivery, repairs, and upgrades.
  

This integrated approach allows crews to destroy costly Russian UAVs while conserving high-value air defense missiles, which are crucial against ballistic, cruise, and air-launched attacks.

Ultimately, Dronefall’s achievements come down to people—soldiers, volunteers, donors, and partners who consistently support frontline units.

The damage inflicted on the enemy by Dronefall’s FPV interceptions is estimated in the billions of hryvnias, far exceeding the project’s operational costs.

Plans for 2026

Next year, Come Back Alive Foundation will continue scaling Dronefall, expanding infrastructure, and training new crews to defend Ukrainian skies even more effectively.