01 July 2025

"Hero of Ukraine" commander, Major Oleh Shyriaiev, designed combat armor from kevlar, heat-resistant fibers, and other materials to protect troops from shrapnel during drone attacks.

"The idea of these armored overalls was my initiative and is something that hasn’t existed before," said Shyriaiev, who was inspired to devise the protective uniforms from his drone-warfare experiences during his country's invasion by Russia. "When a drone drops a grenade or explosive device, whether it hits a soldier or group of soldiers, there is shrapnel and ballistic powder flying around, which have different starting velocities and weight. We are working and developing this idea so that in addition to bulletproof vests and helmets, the overalls will be made from so called ‘armoured fabric’ that stop shrapnel of certain sizes penetrating the material.”

The suits feature reinforced protection for a soldier's knees, elbows, shoulders, ankles, and groin. Typically, armored suits can be a liability on the battlefield as they limit mobility. However, Shyriaiev's drone overalls are designed to be worn with traditional body armour and helmets without significantly affecting a warrior's ability to move.

Graphic from Telegraph UK.