Veteran of the skies: Shark drone with over 300 flight hours donated to War Museum in Ukraine
Ukrainian company UkrSpecSystems has donated a Shark reconnaissance UAV, which was used in combat operations, to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War. One of the drone's most notable features is visible battle damage on its frame, including areas repaired in field conditions and marked by distinctive stitch-like repair marks.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
Details: UkrSpecSystems describes the UAV as a "veteran of the sky", as it carried out missions on the Zaporizhzhia front in 2023-2024 and has logged more than 300 flight hours. According to the manufacturer, the drone was used during strikes on several Russian systems, including electronic warfare assets and air defence systems such as Buk, Pantsir and Osa.
This is not the first time such exhibits have been handed over to the museum. Other companies have also contributed to the collection. For example, SkyFall donated various drones, including Vampire and P1-SUN, while Tencore provided a TerMIT ground robotic system.
In addition, the museum's collection has been expanded to include Magura and SeaBaby naval drones, transferred by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine. Some of these exhibits can already be seen on the museum grounds near the Motherland Monument in Kyiv.
In the future, these items are expected to be brought together in a Museum of Military Technologies showcasing Ukrainian innovations that are changing the battlefield. Plans also include the opening of a Museum of Russian (Soviet) Propaganda.
These projects are part of the museum's ongoing transformation. In 2023, the Soviet emblem on the Motherland Monument's shield was replaced with the Ukrainian trident. The museum now aims to create a modern, multifunctional space covering 710 sq m.
Museum director Yurii Savchuk said: "The museum is already undergoing transformation – the change of symbols on the shield, decommunisation and derussification of the complex, and the expansion of its historical scope have all driven the idea of large-scale development. Today support is crucial to turn these new spaces into a truly modern, multifunctional environment that serves all of Ukrainian society."
Since 2014, the museum has collected a substantial number of materials related to Russia's war against Ukraine – from equipment and weapons to personal belongings of service members. The collection continues to grow through contributions from military units and field expeditions.
These materials are used for exhibitions both in Ukraine and abroad. Over the years, the museum has hosted hundreds of exhibitions dedicated to both World War II and the ongoing war.
Those wishing to support the creation of the new space can do so via the museum's website.
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