The Barracuda unit received new pickup trucks for work on enemy drones
On June 4, three pickup trucks were handed over to the consolidated group of the Defense Forces of Ukraine "Barracuda" near Kyiv. This is a unit that hunts down enemy reconnaissance and strike drones with the help of interceptor drones. The new vehicles should increase the mobility of the crews and help them respond faster to air threats.
11.06.2026
The pickup trucks were purchased as part of the "Holding the Light of the Sky" charity project, implemented by EVA in cooperation with the HeroCar program of the Ruslan Shostak Charity Foundation. The fundraising campaign ran from March 19 to April 26. During this time, over 350,000 Ukrainians joined the initiative, and the total amount of contributions reached UAH 3,271,422.
The vehicles were selected taking into account the actual needs of the unit. For mobile crews tracking aerial targets, cross-country capability, all-wheel drive, maneuverability, and the ability to act quickly in difficult conditions are critical. In the work of "Barracuda," transport is not just a means of reaching a position, but an essential part of combat readiness: the crews must deploy promptly, change their operational location depending on the situation, and act under constant threat.
During the event, the "Barracuda" service members shared how the unit operates, demonstrated the equipment of the mobile crews, and explained the combat deployment algorithm—from the aerial threat signal to hitting the target. A special part of the program was a demonstration flight of an interceptor drone, during which the operators showcased the equipment's aerial capabilities, including its speed, maneuverability, and precision. Those present also had the opportunity to test drone flight simulators and try themselves as operators under the guidance of instructors.
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The history of "Barracuda" began with a small group of people. Over time, the unit scaled up. Its mission is to detect and destroy enemy drones that threaten Ukrainian cities, infrastructure, and the positions of the Defense Forces.
This is exactly why the need for transport in such units remains constant. As a "Barracuda" service member with the call sign "Lykha" (Fierce) noted, the unit requires not only the vehicles that crews directly use to go on missions but also backup transport in case of an enemy drone strike or other unpredictable situations: "We've had cases where out of 20 vehicles, 17 were undergoing repairs."
The military identifies logistics as the most dangerous part of their work. Even the road to a position can be risky due to the threat of FPV drones. A combat crew commander with the call sign "Volya" (Freedom) explains: the military always follows safety rules and tries to move when the enemy might be less active—early in the morning or in the evening when it starts to get dark. At the same time, according to her, the drone threat remains constant, so crews need to act extremely fast.