Anti-drone net appears in central Berlin to mark Ukraine's Independence Day
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An anti-drone protective net was installed in the very heart of Berlin on Aug. 24 to raise awareness of the fragile protections Ukrainians live under, and to call for Germany and Europe to deliver more in terms of air defense capabilities.
The installation was installed by the Berlin-based Ukrainian civil society organization Vitsche and the German-Ukrainian defense industry consortium New Age Defense (NAD), as part of a program of events to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.
The aim of the event is to "raise awareness of the lived experience of Ukrainians during Russia's war and to make clear the link between protecting Ukrainian civilians to wider European security," Vitsche said in its statement.
At the center of Berlin's Pariser Platz, home to the Brandenburg Gate and meters away from the German Parliament, a large anti-drone net stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of Ukraine's air defenses.
Vitsche and NAD have issued a joint demand to "protect Ukraine's skies," with increased deliveries of interception technologies: both drones and missiles, to Ukraine.
"Every intercepted missile or drone means a life saved," said Kateryna Mykhalko, Managing Director of NAD.
She went on to explain that Ukraine's use of interception technology is leading to innovation taking place in the field.
"These experiences are invaluable for the security of the whole of Europe," Mykhalko said.
In addition to defense support, Vitsche and NAD are calling on Germany to establish more joint defense ventures as a means to ensuring long-term security, and for the EU and NATO to find a way to integrate Ukraine's real-world experiences in their respective security strategies.
They also note that Ukrainian membership of both is "essential for a secure European future."
Other demands include doing more to bring back Ukrainian children that have been abducted by Russia, the use of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction, and the closure of Berlin's Russian House cultural center.
On the evening of Aug. 24 Vitsche will also lead a march through Berlin from Pariser Platz, to Potsdamer Platz, from 6:30 p.m. local time.
