IT Equipment for Faust, Defender of the Donbas
Quality equipment means survival. In a war defined by drones and the effective use of modern technology, inadequate equipment is a vulnerability - one that sooner or later comes at a cost. Through this fundraising campaign, we will provide high-quality technology and IT equipment for Faust, a fighter serving in the Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 156th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This support will help his unit “see the invisible” - to monitor the airspace, effectively analyze the battlefield situation, plan operations, and protect their fellow soldiers. At present, they are holding one of the most exposed sectors of the Donbas. The funds raised will be used to purchase high-performance laptops and rugged tablets, portable power stations, portable Starlink satellite kits, and inverter generators.
The 156th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was formed in August 2024 and currently comprises approximately two thousand personnel. The brigade includes specialized unmanned systems teams responsible for strike operations, reconnaissance, enemy position identification, fire correction, and counter-drone defense. Today, the brigade is deployed in the most exposed sectors of the Donbas, where it faces Russian forces under extremely demanding combat conditions. Your support will go directly to the drone operators whose mission is to detect the enemy before they strike - and to strike before they are detected. In their world, reliable technology immediately becomes a force multiplier, saving time, ammunition, and - above all - human lives. Help them see more, react faster, and survive.
Whom Will You Help?
Faust is one of the operators of the Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 156th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He comes from the Kirovohrad region and, in civilian life, worked as a software developer. He was mobilized in December 2024. Within just ten days, he got married, celebrated the New Year, and began military training on 10 January 2025, after which he was assigned to his current unit. Today, he applies his professional background to working with data streams and automating processes that are critical for drone operations. His task is to process information faster than the enemy.
“Standard equipment allows us to handle one task at a time. But we have to monitor 40 streams simultaneously, switch between them instantly, input coordinates, and communicate. When we have a high-performance computer and reliable equipment, we are faster than the enemy. That speed makes the difference.” Faust, specialist in the Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 156th Mechanized Brigade; formerly a software developer.
What Will the Funds From This Campaign Be Used For?
To enable Faust’s drone unit to “see the invisible,” effectively monitor the airspace, analyze data, plan operations, and protect their fellow soldiers, the unit has requested support in acquiring the following equipment, with a total cost of CZK 450,000 (EUR 18,503):
- High-performance laptops. For efficient processing of dozens of parallel video streams, access to tactical maps, coordination of operations, and communication between units.
- Rugged tablets, resistant to impacts, snow, and rain
Essential for drone operators working in field conditions during the Ukrainian winter, where standard consumer devices fail. - Inverter generators (3 kW)
Providing power in areas without electricity, enabling long-term field operations and charging mission-critical equipment required for continuous reconnaissance and battle management. - EcoFlow portable power stations
A mobile and silent power source that complements the generators, allowing operators to work during rapid relocations and in situations where running a generator is not possible. - Portable Starlink satellite kits, which provide stable internet connectivity even in areas without mobile signal or where the signal is jammed.
Thanks to a generous Christmas donation from an anonymous corporate donor, we have already been able to procure part of this equipment for the defenders. We now need to raise the remaining CZK 220,000 (EUR 9,046) to deliver the following items to the 156th Brigade as quickly as possible:
- 3 high-performance laptops
- 2 rugged tablets
- 1 inverter generator (3 kW)
- 1 EcoFlow portable power station (2 kW)
- 2 Portable Starlink satellite kits
and to cover the costs associated with logistics and transportation of the aid to its destination.
The fortress cities held by the Ukrainian army in the Donbas are also a line of defense for Europe and the democratic world. As Ukrainian political analyst Vitaliy Portnykov has said: “The future of the 21st century is being decided in the Donbas today.” Continued support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is one way to play an active and meaningful role in shaping our own security.
100 donors supported this project