On July 17, Russia withdrew from the "grain agreement." The very next day, the infrastructure of Danube ports came under attack by Russian missiles and drones. Since then, the enemy has been attempting to disrupt the Danube route for Ukrainian grain.
In Reni, due to Russia's military aggression, 83 objects were damaged, nine of which are located in the ports. A group of businessmen from the city has united to protect their assets.
Owners of Reni-based companies, Maxym Maximov, 40, of "Viking Alliance," and Dmitry Kazanin, 28, of "Teus," have rallied 11 local entrepreneurs around the idea of enhancing the city's air defense. They raised $500,000, purchased 11 vehicles, most of which are already equipped with everything needed to shoot down "Shahed" drones, which Russia frequently uses for attacks on the region.
All mobile groups have been handed over to the military and are in active use.
"We work in Reni, and it was important for us to do something to protect the people," explains Kazanin. The partners divided their responsibilities. "I dealt with searching and purchasing vehicles, and Maxim coordinated with the military," Kazanin says.
Maximov consulted with the military about their needs for shooting down "Shaheds," analyzed existing solutions in Ukraine, and secured the support of volunteers from Odessa who deliver necessary elements for air defense.
"We have the most efficient mobile groups currently existing in Ukraine," Maximov confidently states.
For security reasons, he does not disclose the specifics of the competitive advantage. He only mentions that the minimal set includes vehicles, thermal imagers, tablets, and laser target designators.
The mobile groups are tasked with protecting the territory from Orlivka to Reni, covering almost 30 km in a straight line.
"What has been done is not enough," says Kazanin. "We need approximately 32 equipped vehicles to fully cover our region."
The businessmen hoped that the initiative would gain momentum, and there would be more "investors" in the future.
Yes, among the participants of the initiative, there is no agro-company Kernel, which invested $10 million in the construction of a transshipment terminal in the port of Reni. The company did not want to comment on why they did not join the entrepreneurs' initiative but mentioned that Kernel supports the defense forces of Ukraine, including air defense.
