From Garage to Frontline: Makers Are Powering Ukraine’s Resistance
The maker movement — with its roots in DIY electronics, 3D printing, and hands-on creativity — has become a vital force in Ukraine’s defense. Volunteer makers are building drones, assembling radios, fabricating parts, and finding ingenious ways to solve complex battlefield challenges using what’s available.
🧰 Makers on the Frontlines of Innovation
Across Ukraine and the diaspora, small labs, home workshops, and maker spaces are producing life-saving equipment. From night-vision accessories to drone airframes, makers are building faster and more flexibly than traditional industry can supply.
Examples of real-world maker contributions:
- 3D-printed drone parts and camera mounts
- Rapid production of FPV drone kits
- Repairs of field electronics and soldering support
- Design and testing of power banks and solar units
- Laser-cutting parts for medics and vehicles
- Converting off-the-shelf hardware into tactical tools
👤 Who Can Join
Anyone who knows how to:
- Work with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or similar platforms
- Solder, assemble, or repair electronics
- Use 3D printers, CNC, or laser cutters
- Design simple mechanical components
- Organize maker communities and lead workshops
- Build, document, and improve open-source projects
We welcome hobbyists, educators, tinkerers, and hackers — even if you don’t consider yourself an “engineer.”
🔨 Types of Projects
- FPV drone assembly and tuning
- Modding or redesigning consumer gear for tactical use
- Creating kits and instructions for others to replicate builds
- Managing open-source documentation, sourcing, QA
- Supporting local Ukrainian maker teams remotely
- Contributing to design libraries and CAD resources
✍️ Ready to Help?
If you’re a hands-on builder with a passion for helping others, fill out our volunteer form. We’ll connect you with real teams on the ground building real tools that save lives.
🛠️ In Ukraine, creativity saves lives. Join the maker movement for freedom.
11 Responses
Hello friends,
I’m an Advanced Systems Engineer (Aerospace industry) based in the UK. I have lots of experience with the design and manufacture of components, and I have my own 3D printer at home.
I’d love to help out wherever possible, so please get in touch
I am a retired RF design engineer with research and development experience up to 18 GHz. I can construct breadboards and am a hands-on engineer rather than a theoretical type but I am not stupid and can ‘ solve problems with constraints ‘ which is my opinion of what engineering entails.
My name is Héctor, and I’m originally from Mexico, currently living in Prague, Czech Republic.
I work as a Mechanical Designer at the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics (CIIRC), where I am part of a multidisciplinary robotics research team with expertise in mechanical design, robotics, software, control systems, and electronics. We also have access to several 3D printers and rapid prototyping facilities.
I would really like to contribute to supporting Ukraine in any way we can. I know that some colleagues at CIIRC are already printing periscopes and sending them to Ukraine, which inspired me to reach out.
Could you let me know if there are any current projects where additional engineering or manufacturing support would be useful? Whether it’s 3D printing existing designs, helping develop new solutions, testing prototypes, or contributing our engineering expertise, I would be happy to get involved.
If an interesting project requires additional resources, there may also be opportunities to seek funding through Czech research or government programs.
Thank you for the work you’re doing. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Héctor
Owls use soft wing edges to fly silently while hunting. Is there a way to modify propeller edges to take advantage of this silent property?
I would like to help Ukraine with the war effort against Russia. I am a seasoned 3D Printing enthusiast. I am a retired software engineer and have designed and built many Arduino successful projects based on the UNO, NANO, esp32 in conjunction with a wide array of sensors and interfaces. I have led many plant floor automation systems before my retirement. I hold a US FCC General Class Radio telephone license. I started my career spending 16 years in broadcast engineering at a local television station before migrating to software and electronics design. I am also an Extra Class amateur radio operator.
I wanted any work
Bonjour,
Je fais du service après vente sur des machines de decoupes laser et poinçonnage. Je dispose d’un stock de pièces pour ces machines si ca peut aider.
Greetings!
I found this place thx to my ai assistant I gave the task of finding how I can put my 3D printer in production. I was also pointed to a Telegram group. I have an industrial background from producing gas turbine parts including TIG welding in stainless for a major energy sector brand. In my spare time lately I have built my own power banks, and printed the Sliding Legolini. But I want to start a business utilizing my 3D printer evolving into a more meaningful life for me and my printer. Time on earth is limited and I am done fooling arond with just my own toys. I am ready to put prints on Ebay. What is needed? So printing, soldering, is my takeaway in my home setting.
Hello Ola Kinberg. Heroyim Slava! This is Jack Cooksey of Defense Tech for Ukraine (DTU). Thank you for commenting on our site:
“Greetings!
I found this place thx to my ai assistant I gave the task of finding how I can put my 3D printer in production. I was also pointed to a Telegram group. I have an industrial background from producing gas turbine parts including TIG welding in stainless for a major energy sector brand. In my spare time lately I have built my own power banks, and printed the Sliding Legolini. But I want to start a business utilizing my 3D printer evolving into a more meaningful life for me and my printer. Time on earth is limited and I am done fooling arond with just my own toys. I am ready to put prints on Ebay. What is needed? So printing, soldering, is my takeaway in my home setting.”
If you are interested in joining DTU, please fill out our membership form:
https://defensetechforukraine.org/dtu-membership-application/referrer=websitecomment-6-6
Membership is free and you will be added to our weekly calls where you will learn more about our projects and which you can volunteer to help. I believe that we can find a good way to put your printers into good use helping Ukraine.
Thank you for support Ukraine’s struggle for democracy.
Jack Cooksey
I’m a Czech pharmacist living in the US and I have a Bamboo labs X1 carbon 3d printer. Is there a way to help besides donating money?
Thank you
Hello Brad. Heroyim Slava! This is Jack Cooksey of Defense Tech for Ukraine (DTU). Thank you for commenting on our site:
“I’m a Czech pharmacist living in the US and I have a Bamboo labs X1 carbon 3d printer. Is there a way to help besides donating money?
Thank you”
If you are interested in joining DTU, please fill out our membership form:
https://defensetechforukraine.org/dtu-membership-application/referrer=websitecomment-8-6
Membership is free and you will be added to our weekly calls where you will learn more about our projects and which you can volunteer to help. I believe that we can also find a way to put your printers to good use helping Ukraine.
Thank you for support Ukraine’s struggle for democracy.
Jack Cooksey