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"Varan" UGV Operator School: Support the Joint Initiative by Come Back Alive Foundation and Kyivstar

20 Apr 2026, 01:30
reading time
5 min reading

Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) are the technological answer to the challenges of modern warfare. These robots save lives where humans once faced extreme risks: they replace soldiers during demining operations, deliver ammunition to “gray zones,” and evacuate the wounded under fire.

However, any machine is just hardware unless handled by a professional. That is why Come Back Alive Foundation, together with Kyivstar, continues to develop the “Varan” Operator School. Our goal is to train specialists capable of engaging the enemy professionally and remotely.

“We Have to Live Here: Varan UGV Operator School” is the second stage of the project by Kyivstar and Come Back Alive Foundation, aimed at training UGV specialists within the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine.

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Training as a Strategic Advantage

“In a war of attrition, everything comes down to human skill. That is why military training is one of the key priorities for Come Back Alive Foundation. At the ‘Varan’ school, we are building an ecosystem where instructors with real combat experience share their knowledge in a proper environment with modern equipment. This approach focuses on the quality of training and the development of people—who are the true game-changers of this war,” comments Oleh Karpenko, Deputy Director of Come Back Alive Foundation.

In 2025, over 47 million UAH was raised for the project. These funds laid the school’s foundation, providing cadets with facilities for training, accommodation, and necessary protection. Now, we are scaling this experience:

  • Expanding Infrastructure: Strengthening the technical facilities so the school can host more training groups simultaneously.
  • Sharing Combat Experience: Instructors train cadets using UGV models that have already proven their effectiveness in actual combat.
  • Training Experts: Focusing on ensuring every graduate can maximize the potential of robotic systems on the battlefield.

Below are photos from the project’s previous handovers:

“Supporting the Armed Forces is a pillar of Kyivstar’s systemic CSR strategy. Our focus is on projects that implement technological solutions and help save the lives of Ukrainian defenders. This is why, together with Come Back Alive Foundation and our subscribers, we are supporting the ‘Varan’ UGV Operator School for the second time. Because we have to live here,” says Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar.

How to Support “Varan” UGV Operator Training

Your donation is a direct investment in Ukraine’s technological edge. You can contribute in just a few clicks:

  1. Direct Transfer: Donate to the project’s “Banka”.
  2. For Kyivstar Prepaid Subscribers:
    • “Help the ZSU+” Superpower: Activate it in the app, and up to 50 UAH from your monthly plan will go toward the collection.
    • SMS to 515: Send any text to automatically donate 10 UAH every time you top up your account (for top-ups of 50 UAH or more).
    • Quick Donation: Send an SMS to 88009 — 10 UAH will be instantly deducted from your balance to support the school.

Invest in technology that protects our warriors’ lives. Join the cause today.

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