On a “hot night,” when Russia tries to overwhelm Kyiv’s air defenses, Ukraine relies not only on Patriot missiles, but on civilians wielding searchlights and vintage guns.According to The New York Times, on a “hot night” in Ukraine, when Russia attempts to overwhelm Kyiv’s air defenses, the country relies not only on Patriot missiles, but also on civilians armed with searchlights and vintage guns. These civilians, dressed in khaki fatigues, are members of one of many civilian units tasked with guarding the skies around the capital. They spend their nights on high alert, ready to shoot down incoming Russian drones using old machine guns provided by the Ukrainian Army.
On a recent Saturday night, as dusk settled over the surrounding fields, the volunteers lounged on a concrete terrace, listening to music and sharing laughter. But this brief moment of ease was soon interrupted by the warning of a “hot night” ahead. At 11:35 p.m., the volunteers received the signal to deploy and sprang into action.
Mykhailo, a trade union representative by day, was part of a three-member crew that quickly set up three tripods in an open field. Two were for machine guns, while the third held night-vision binoculars and a laser. Mykhailo checked a tablet that displayed a live map of Ukraine, showing a swarm of red triangles representing Russian attack drones heading their way.
As Russia continues to intensify its drone assaults on Ukraine, volunteer crews like the one in Pereiaslav are spending sleepless nights trying to repel them. Last Saturday, Russia launched a record-breaking 472 drones and decoys at Ukraine, and this Friday, they sent off another swarm of over 400 drones and decoys, along with numerous missiles, at towns and cities across the country.
Despite the danger and lack of sleep, these civilian volunteers remain dedicated to their mission of protecting their country. They are just one example of the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people in the face of ongoing aggression from Russia.
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