01/23/2026

Ukraine has launched an unusual but highly practical project: the restoration of engines removed from destroyed Russian Shahed kamikaze drones. This project is being carried out by the ZAMPOTEKH Foundation , which has already received dozens of such engines for repair and reuse. The engines in question are MD550s, the same ones installed on Iranian Shaheds, which Russia has been using en masse in strikes on Ukrainian cities. Now, these same engines are returning to the skies, but this time on Ukrainian drones. According to the foundation, it takes about two weeks to restore one engine. Several damaged engines are used to assemble one fully functional one. The repaired engines are installed on Ukrainian drones, which are then used for reconnaissance and strike missions. The Shahed uses a Chinese MD550 engine. Its market price ranges from $12,000 to $17,000. For Russia, which buys hundreds of these drones, that’s a significant amount of money. For Ukraine, restoring such engines is not only a cost-saving measure, but also a symbolic response: what the enemy used to destroy cities is now working against them. The MD550 is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, boxer engine designed for long-lasting performance. It’s precisely this engine that enables the Shaheds to fly long distances. This resource is now being used to benefit Ukraine. Experts note that this approach is an example of rational and effective warfare. Ukraine isn’t simply shooting down enemy drones; it’s reaping the benefits, reducing its dependence on imports and accelerating the production of its own drones. Media previously reported that Ukraine is undergoing a transformation in the fight against Shaheds. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an energy meeting to address the challenging power outage in the regions. The meeting focused on Kyiv and the surrounding region, as well as Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, and the Chernihiv and Sumy regions. According to Zelenskyy, additional repair crews from other regions have already been dispatched to Kyiv. Employees from Ukrzaliznytsia and other state-owned companies have also joined the work to expedite restoration efforts following the power sector disruptions. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported on the progress of repairs and measures taken to stabilize the power grid. Defense against drone attacks was also discussed. Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov spoke about the delivery of interceptor drones and the actual results of their use against Russian drones. Zelenskyy emphasized that the planned volumes of such deliveries will be fulfilled. Separately, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Anatoliy Krivonozhko reported on the operation of the Shahid countermeasures system and its modernization and transformation in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense. The goal is to increase the effectiveness of drone interception. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on additional generator deliveries and the establishment of equipment reserves. Other agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine, were also given specific tasks within the conference call.

© Kanal 13 2026