As Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine increasingly shifts into the technological domain, decisive importance is no longer determined solely by manpower or conventional weaponry. Speed of intelligence gathering, unit mobility, and the quality of technical support have become critical factors. These are precisely the areas where Domino Foundation, established by philanthropist, volunteer, and civic activist Anton Shukhnin, has been working in a consistent and targeted manner. The foundation has recently delivered another batch of critically important equipment to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense (HUR).
The assistance includes modern unmanned aerial systems—specifically Mavic-type drones—as well as a unique, specially configured Mercedes Sprinter vehicle. This rare configuration has been adapted for operations in combat zones. The support is not a one-off donation, but part of a long-term, systematic effort aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of Ukrainian military intelligence.

The transferred drones are already being actively used by HUR operatives during special missions—for aerial reconnaissance, coordination of unit actions, and the collection of critical frontline intelligence. In modern warfare, unmanned technologies significantly reduce risks to personnel, enable greater precision, and allow faster decision-making—decisions on which dozens of lives may depend.
Anton Shukhnin emphasizes that supporting intelligence units is not merely a matter of supplying equipment, but a matter of responsibility borne by the rear toward those who operate daily under constant threat.
“Drones like the Mavic do their job and genuinely save lives. Fighters are carrying out extremely complex tasks at the front, while we are in the rear. Our duty is to help in every way we can—so they have the tools to accomplish their missions and so that Ukraine can endure,” Shukhnin notes.

Special attention during the handover was given to the Mercedes Sprinter, which features an extended 10-meter chassis, reinforced suspension, increased payload capacity, and heavy-duty tires. This configuration allows the vehicle to operate in difficult terrain, move off-road, withstand significant loads, and ensure the autonomy and mobility of intelligence groups in the most dangerous conditions.
For units conducting special operations, reliable transport is no less important than weapons or communications systems. Vehicles ensure rapid movement, delivery of equipment, evacuation, and ultimately the survival of personnel during missions.

It is also important to underscore the role of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in the current war. Today, HUR is one of Ukraine’s key instruments of asymmetric response to the enemy’s numerical and resource superiority. Intelligence officers operate not only along the front line, but also deep behind enemy lines, carrying out missions whose results often become known to the public much later—or never at all.
HUR plays a decisive role in intelligence collection, identifying enemy logistics routes, command centers, ammunition depots, and air defense systems. The information obtained by intelligence enables Ukrainian forces to carry out precise and effective strikes, reducing losses among civilians and their own units.
Modern intelligence is impossible without technology. Drones have become the “eyes” of the war, providing continuous real-time situational awareness. At the same time, unmanned systems wear out quickly, are lost during combat missions, or become targets of enemy electronic warfare, making their constant renewal essential.

Mobility of special operations groups is no less critical. HUR missions are often conducted in conditions of full autonomy, difficult terrain, and high-intensity combat. In such circumstances, reliable specialized transport is not a matter of comfort, but of survival and mission success.
HUR representatives emphasize that the combination of unmanned systems and specialized vehicles forms a unified operational complex without which effective performance on the modern battlefield is impossible.
Domino Foundation has been systematically supporting Ukraine’s Defense Forces for an extended period. Previously, the foundation supplied intelligence and combat units with specialized vehicles, including a powerful Dodge RAM currently operating in the Pokrovsk direction, as well as a Toyota Hilux worth over 3 million hryvnias, additionally upgraded for combat tasks.

For Anton Shukhnin, this work carries a deeply personal dimension. After the occupation of Donetsk in 2014, he was forced to leave his hometown. Since then, supporting the Ukrainian army and intelligence services has become a matter of principle and civic responsibility for him.
Shukhnin has repeatedly stressed that business and civil society have no right to remain on the sidelines during wartime. Through Domino Foundation, he invests resources, time, and effort into strengthening the country’s defense capabilities so that Ukrainian intelligence officers have everything they need to conduct special operations and protect the state.
Systemic assistance focused on the real needs of the front makes Domino Foundation a clear example of how private initiative can reinforce state institutions during wartime—and directly contribute to saving lives and safeguarding Ukraine’s security.