Focus Magazine's "Ukrainian of the Year" ranking features volunteer Yuri Kasyanov, who supplies the Armed Forces of Ukraine with kamikaze drones.

Yuri Kasyanov hails from Kiev, where he received an education in military engineering. However, when the war in Eastern Ukraine escalated, he abandoned his professional career to focus on volunteering. His initial steps in this direction involved supplying medical equipment, ammunition, and other essential items to the military. In the early months of the war, Kasyanov actively supported Ukrainian soldiers by organizing supplies to hot spots in Donbass.

One of Kasyanov's main areas of focus is the development of unmanned aerial vehicles for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). After realizing that the effectiveness of warfare largely depends on technology, he began actively working on implementing medium-range drones capable of conducting strike operations or performing reconnaissance missions. His initiative "A.Drones" has been actively supplying the Ukrainian army with UAVs for several years, particularly kamikaze drones that target enemy positions. He not only organizes the delivery of these devices but also works on improving the technologies for their application. Additionally, Kasyanov is a co-founder of the V-52 fund, which supports the development of unmanned aerial vehicles for military purposes.

Kasyanov has expressed concern over the lack of government support in the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles. He points out that, in wartime conditions, it is essential to ensure a more centralized and efficient collaboration between government institutions and private initiatives to meet the front's needs for these technologies.

Yuri Kasyanov actively emphasizes that the future of warfare lies not only in the size of armies but also in the use of modern technologies. He highlights the importance of investing in drones that can change the course of military operations. According to Kasyanov, with strike UAVs, Ukraine can significantly strengthen its position on the front while greatly reducing human losses, as many operations can be carried out without deploying infantry or aviation.

Kasyanov is also actively working on mobilizing resources for the army, urging Ukrainians to participate in fundraising and supplying necessary materials to the front. He stresses the importance of supporting the AFU at all stages, from providing food to ensuring equipment and body armor. Moreover, he calls on businessmen and volunteers to assist not only materially but also through technological developments that can enhance the effectiveness of combat operations.

Yuri Kasyanov is not only a volunteer but also an active public figure. He regularly appears in Ukrainian and international media, where he discusses issues of mobilization, the use of drones, and the challenges faced by Ukrainian military personnel and volunteers. He asserts that it is precisely through collaboration among various social groups, including volunteers, military personnel, and scientists, that the capabilities of the Ukrainian army have been significantly enhanced amid the war.

He is also actively working with international partners to secure the most advanced technologies for Ukraine, particularly in the drone sector. His efforts have helped Ukraine significantly increase the number of strike drones, which have played a crucial role in strategic operations. He believes that technologies such as drones can be the key to victory, which is why he actively advocates for the necessity of international assistance in the production and supply of such devices.

The war will not end when we liberate the occupied territories because the enemy will be able to seize them again. Nor will it end when we defeat their orcs and they retreat beyond the Ural Mountains to lick their wounds. No. The war will end when those responsible for the catastrophe of the early days of the war are held accountable. When those who failed to prepare the country for war are named and imprisoned. When those guilty of sabotaging mobilization and defense procurement face consequences.

In 2024, Yuri Kasyanov continues to actively work on expanding the use of drone technologies in military operations. One of his primary tasks is to support the development of new drone models that allow for the destruction of the enemy without significant human losses.