Sternenko Community Foundation

The Sternenko Community Foundation is a Ukrainian charitable organisation focused on civilian fundraising and military procurement in support of Ukraine's defence against Russia's full-scale invasion. Its principal activity is obtaining, customizing, and delivering first-person-view (FPV) drones and related equipment to units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The foundation's work sits within the wider Ukrainian volunteer movement, in which private donors, civic activists, technology developers, businesses, and charitable organisations have helped provide capabilities that complement state procurement. The organisation grew out of a volunteer initiative associated with civic activist Serhii Sternenko after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Although the activity began as an informal or movement-based effort, the organisation was formally registered as a charitable foundation in January 2025. Its procurement model concentrates on battlefield requirements communicated by active-duty personnel, particularly the need for strike FPV drones, interception systems, electronic-warfare equipment, and technical adaptations that can be rapidly tested and distributed. The foundation's portfolio includes Rusoriz, a procurement effort for strike FPV drones; Sky Rusoriz, also known as Nebesnyi Rusoriz, which concerns interceptor drones for defending Ukrainian airspace; Shahedoriz, a specialised interceptor programme directed against Shahed-type and Gerbera loitering munitions; and ReDrone, a research-and-development initiative that modifies drone technology in response to operational feedback. These projects illustrate the foundation's emphasis on relatively low-cost, adaptable unmanned systems rather than conventional consumer products or commercial services. According to figures reported by the organisation and cited in reference material, by late 2025 it had raised more than UAH 3.1 billion and delivered over 118,000 FPV drones to Ukrainian military units. It also stated that 95.5% of donations were directed toward the purchase and delivery of FPV drones and other military assistance. The foundation publishes delivery reports, including photographic and video evidence, as part of its accountability practices. These figures are organisational claims and should be distinguished from independently audited financial statements. The foundation works with public institutions and private-sector partners. Its cooperation with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence was formalised through a memorandum signed in September 2025. It has also participated in fundraising with Monobank and collaborated with the property developer RIEL. In 2025, it reportedly received UAH 44 million from Ukraine's Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office through plea-agreement proceeds earmarked for FPV-drone procurement. The organisation's activities expanded beyond procurement into drone interception and control technology. Its Shahedoriz programme reported the destruction of more than 2,200 hostile drones, with claimed opposing-force losses exceeding $92 million. In March 2026, the foundation funded development of the HORNET VISION Ctrl remote-control system for Sting interceptor drones produced by Wild Hornets. The system was designed to permit operation from considerable distances and was tested by Ukrainian air-defence units. In January 2026, Sternenko was appointed an adviser to Ukraine's Minister of Defence with responsibility related to drone-combat strategy, further linking the volunteer procurement ecosystem with official defence planning.

The Sternenko Community Foundation emerged from the Ukrainian volunteer response to Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Civic activist Serhii Sternenko led an initiative that collected civilian donations and used them to obtain equipment for Ukrainian defence units. As the war increased demand for inexpensive, adaptable unmanned systems, the initiative concentrated increasingly on FPV drones, which could be configured for strike missions, interception, reconnaissance support, and other battlefield tasks. The organisation was formally registered as a charitable foundation in January 2025. Formalisation gave the initiative a clearer institutional structure while preserving its central volunteer-procurement function. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer-facing brand, the foundation acts as an intermediary between donors, technology suppliers, military operators, and public authorities. Its work includes fundraising, procurement, commissioning custom equipment, coordinating delivery, and publishing evidence of transfers to military units. Its main procurement line is associated with Rusoriz, a programme for strike FPV drones. The foundation also developed a stronger air-defence focus through Sky Rusoriz, or Nebesnyi Rusoriz, which concerns interceptor drones intended to counter hostile unmanned aerial vehicles. Shahedoriz addresses the specific challenge posed by Shahed-type and Gerbera loitering munitions. The foundation reported that the programme had contributed to the destruction of more than 2,200 enemy drones and attributed more than $92 million in losses to the opposing side. These performance and valuation figures are reported claims rather than independently verified financial or military assessments. ReDrone represents the foundation's research-and-development dimension. The project uses feedback from active-duty operators to identify technical changes and adaptations for drone systems. This feedback loop is important in a rapidly changing combat environment, where radio-frequency conditions, electronic warfare, air-defence tactics, payload requirements, and enemy countermeasures can change faster than conventional procurement cycles. By late 2025, the foundation said it had raised over UAH 3.1 billion and delivered more than 118,000 FPV drones. It also stated that 95.5% of donations went directly to purchasing and delivering FPV drones and other military assistance. Daily delivery reports with photographs and videos were described as part of its transparency and donor-accountability practices. In addition to individual donations, the foundation worked with organisations including Monobank and the property developer RIEL. It reportedly received UAH 44 million in 2025 from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office through plea-agreement proceeds, designated for FPV-drone purchases. The foundation's relationship with the Ukrainian state became more formal in September 2025, when it signed a memorandum with the Ministry of Defence. The agreement was intended to consolidate defence efforts and expand strategic cooperation with government and international organisations. On 22 January 2026, founder Serhii Sternenko was appointed an adviser to the Minister of Defence, specialising in drone-combat strategy. This appointment reflected the growing overlap between Ukraine's volunteer technology ecosystem and official defence policy. In March 2026, within its interceptor-drone work, the foundation funded the development of HORNET VISION Ctrl, a remote-control system for Sting interceptors produced by Wild Hornets. The system was designed to enable operation from significant distances and was tested by several Ukrainian air-defence units. This project illustrates the foundation's evolution from donation-funded equipment delivery toward targeted technical development and integration with operational defence requirements.

• 2026

  Founder appointed defence adviser

  [1]Sternenko Community Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  On 22 January, Serhii Sternenko becomes an adviser to Ukraine's Minister of Defence on drone-combat strategy.

• 2026

  HORNET VISION Ctrl development

  [1]Sternenko Community Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  In March, the foundation funds development of a remote-control system for Wild Hornets' Sting interceptor drones.

• 2025

  Foundation is formally registered

  [1]Sternenko Community Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The initiative is formally registered as a charitable foundation in January 2025.

• 2025

  Ministry of Defence memorandum

  [1]Sternenko Community Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  In September, the foundation signs a memorandum with Ukraine's Ministry of Defence to strengthen strategic cooperation.

• 2025

  Reported procurement scale exceeds 118,000 FPV drones

  [1]Sternenko Community Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  By late 2025, the foundation reports raising more than UAH 3.1 billion and delivering over 118,000 FPV drones.

• 2022

  Volunteer initiative begins

  [1]Sternenko Community Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  A volunteer effort led by civic activist Serhii Sternenko begins supporting Ukrainian defence forces after Russia's full-scale invasion.

A technology-focused Ukrainian defence charity that converts civilian donations and operational feedback into rapidly deployable drone and electronic-warfare capabilities for Ukraine's armed forces.

• Strike FPV drone procurement

  Rusoriz

  Rusoriz is the foundation's procurement programme for strike-oriented FPV drones. It connects fundraising and military requirements with the sourcing and delivery of customized unmanned systems for Ukrainian defence units. The programme is part of the foundation's broader effort to provide adaptable, relatively low-cost battlefield technology rather than a retail product line.

• FPV interceptor drones

  Sky Rusoriz (Nebesnyi Rusoriz)

  Sky Rusoriz, also known as Nebesnyi Rusoriz, focuses on interceptor drones intended to protect Ukrainian airspace from hostile reconnaissance and strike UAVs. The programme reflects the foundation's shift from supplying attack drones alone toward supporting short-cycle counter-UAV and air-defence capabilities.

• Loitering-munition interception

  Shahedoriz

  Shahedoriz is a specialised interceptor-drone programme directed at Shahed-type and Gerbera loitering munitions. The foundation says the project has contributed to the destruction of more than 2,200 enemy drones. Its purpose is to give Ukrainian units a dedicated, flexible response to recurring waves of hostile unmanned attacks.

• Drone research and development

  ReDrone

  ReDrone is a research-and-development programme that modifies drone systems using technical feedback from active-duty operators. Its model is based on rapid iteration: field users identify shortcomings or new requirements, and developers adapt equipment for changing electronic-warfare, communications, control, and mission conditions.

• Remote drone-control system · 2026

  HORNET VISION Ctrl

  HORNET VISION Ctrl is a remote-control system developed for Sting interceptor drones produced by Wild Hornets. Funded by the foundation in March 2026, the system was designed to allow operation from substantial distances and was tested with Ukrainian air-defence units.

• 2025FPV drone fundraising and delivery campaign

  Ukraine

  The foundation raises civilian donations for FPV drones and related military equipment, publishes delivery evidence, and coordinates transfers to Ukrainian armed-forces units.

  Outcome. The organisation reported more than UAH 3.1 billion raised and over 118,000 FPV drones delivered by late 2025.

  Source
• 2025Monobank joint fundraising

  Ukraine

  The foundation collaborated with Monobank on fundraising activity supporting drone and other defence-equipment procurement.

  Source

• 2026

  Fund development of HORNET VISION CtrlProduct launch

  Background

  Interceptor-drone operations require reliable control over significant distances and adaptation to battlefield conditions.

  Action taken

  The foundation funded development of the HORNET VISION Ctrl remote-control system for Wild Hornets' Sting interceptors.

  Aftermath

  The system was successfully tested by several Ukrainian air-defence units, according to the reference material.

  Source

• 2025

  Formalise the volunteer initiative as a charitable foundationStrategy

  Background

  The volunteer procurement effort had expanded into sustained fundraising and military equipment delivery after beginning in 2022.

  Action taken

  The organisation was formally registered as a charitable foundation in January 2025.

  Aftermath

  The foundation continued its drone-focused procurement and reporting activities under a formal charitable structure.

  Source

• 2025

  Deepen cooperation with the Ministry of DefenceStrategy

  Background

  The foundation's civilian procurement activities increasingly overlapped with official defence requirements and strategic drone planning.

  Action taken

  In September 2025, the foundation signed a memorandum with Ukraine's Ministry of Defence.

  Aftermath

  The memorandum established a framework for broader cooperation with Ukrainian authorities and international organisations.

  Source

1. 1Sternenko Community Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sternenko Community Foundation official websitesternenkofund.org