Ukraine is raising funds to build a strike force of 1,000 exploding drones to help defeat Russia

A Ukrainian intelligence unit has appealed for funds to buy up to 1,000 exploding drones. The unit said it's creating a strike force of first-person-view drones to use as

"snipers." Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have made extensive use of drones in the conflict. Ukraine is raising funds to create a strike force of drones, its defense

ministry said on Friday. The Kryla, part of Ukraine's military-intelligence service, wants a fleet of 1,000 so-called first-person-view drones to help defend its front line

against Russian forces. The defense ministry said such drones could collect intelligence and essentially function as snipers from a distance of about 6 miles. Funds

are being raised through the "Starlife-Charity" foundation, which has helped Ukrainian forces since Russia invaded in February. The defense ministry didn't immediately

respond to a request for comment from Insider. In May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the start of a new fundraising

project called United24, saying the donations would go toward costs incurred by fighting Russia. Fedorov announced last summer that he hoped to amass an "army of drones" to

help repel Putin's forces. Donations helped buy more than 1,400 drones, according to United24's website. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have made extensive use of

drones in the fighting, with Iranian-made Shahed-136 exploding drones responsible for much of Russia's bombardment of civilian areas and energy infrastructure. In November,

Ukraine pleaded with the US for more powerful drones and anti-drone missiles that cost about $10 million each, Reuters reported.