Ukraine's Drone Boom: From Flower Shops to Frontline Weapons

Kyiv – When the war reached Ukraine in February 2022, many citizens faced a stark choice: flee, hide, or fight. For Kseniia Kalmus, a former floral artist, the path was clear. She swapped flower arrangements for drone parts, transforming her small workshop into a hub producing hundreds of drones for Ukraine’s military each month.

“I just wanted to help my country, help my people and the military,” she said. What began as fundraising for medicine, vehicles, and uniforms quickly shifted to drones – small quadcopters originally meant for photography, now modified to carry explosives to the battlefield.

The conflict has been called the world’s first full-scale drone war. Ukraine reports that drones are responsible for approximately three-quarters of Russian losses, a staggering shift from traditional artillery and tank warfare.

From Homes to Factories

Before 2022, Ukraine had only a handful of drone manufacturers. Today, hundreds of small workshops, garage operations, and volunteer collectives produce drones. Individuals like Kalmus have become central to this movement, building and donating devices to the front lines.

Drone warfare is not confined to Ukraine. Conflicts in the Middle East, Myanmar, and Sudan increasingly feature drones, and governments worldwide are seeking both offensive and defensive technology. Belgium recently scrambled to secure anti-drone systems after temporary airport closures caused by drone sightings.

The Industry Expands

The growth of drone warfare has created a surge in demand for military-grade drones and counter-drone technologies. Global defense contractors, such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, as well as smaller firms like AeroVironment in the US and Tekever in Portugal, are scaling production. Meanwhile, Germany’s Stark is opening a new factory in the UK to meet growing European demand.

The rise of drones has also birthed a counter-industry. Australian company DroneShield and Norwegian start-up Munin Dynamics create portable systems to detect and neutralize small drones, serving military bases and civilian infrastructure alike. Their products are now sought by nations across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

The Next Frontier

While most drones in use today are manually operated, experts note the next shift will involve artificial intelligence. Drones controlled by a single operator, working in coordinated groups or autonomously, could redefine aerial warfare yet again.

For Kalmus and other volunteers, the war is personal. “I miss flowers very much and I miss my old life,” she admits. “But this is about survival – for our country, our existence, our culture.”

The story of Ukraine’s drone boom is one of adaptation and resilience, showing how ordinary citizens can become pivotal in modern warfare, and how technology has become an inseparable part of national defense.