Ukrainian soldiers who film their kills of Russian soldiers or tanks can earn points to purchase weapons from a military tech 'Amazon'
Ukraine has launched a program that gives points to soldiers who kill Russians or destroy their tanks.
The Ukrainian units can use the points to buy drones and other equipment from an online store.
The store is like "Amazon" but with military technology, a top Ukrainian official said this week.
Ukraine has launched a program that awards points to soldiers who verifiably kill Russian troops or destroy their equipment. They can then use these rewards to purchase drones and other weapons from an online "Amazon"-style marketplace.
Mykhailo Fedorov, who serves as Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, said this week that his government has launched the Brave1 Market, a website that showcases military technology from the defense industry, including drones, robots, and electronic warfare devices, that are available for purchase.
Ukrainian military units can use their funds to purchase equipment directly from the website, which functions "like Amazon," Fedorov wrote on Telegram on Monday. However, instead of selling common items, the Brave1 Market offers "innovations."
Military units can also use reward points for purchases. Units are awarded points for killing enemy soldiers or destroying Russian military equipment, so long as they confirm the attack with drone footage and upload it to a military situational awareness network.
Once the kill is verified, units receive "ePoints;" the amount depends on the target. Eliminating a Russian soldier reportedly awards six points, while destroying a tank earns 40. These points can be exchanged for military equipment through the Brave1 Market.
"The marketplace will significantly simplify the interaction between developers and the military," Fedorov said, per a translation of his remarks on Telegram. He said that military units can choose the right tech in just a few clicks, compare different equipment, contact the manufacturer, and make a deal directly.
Fedorov said military units are often unaware of certain equipment available to them, so the new site is intended to offer more transparency. He said that over 1,000 different types of equipment, including various drones, ground robots, guns, and electronic warfare devices, are already on the Brave1 Market.
The catalog is extensive — units can even buy cameras, batteries, engines, and satellite communication devices. Much of the material is readily available for viewing on the site, but some sensitive information can only be accessed by certain users.
Alex Eine, the section commander of a drone unit in Ukraine's Separate Presidential Brigade, told Business Insider that the points system works best for soldiers who work with small first-person-view (FPV) or bomber drones on the front lines. More frequent missions mean a greater chance of earning points.
Eine's unit, known in English as the "Birds of Fury," uses a drone called the Backfire to strike Russian positions behind the front lines. The drone is available on the Brave1 Market for around $60,000 for a pack of three; its value in points is unclear.
A popular bomber drone called "Baba Yaga" costs around 43 points, according to Politico, which cited Fedorov's comments at a recent tech conference in Kyiv. The Ukrainian government will pay for the drones ordered with points and deliver them to the units.
Fedorov said one unit, Magyar's Birds, had already accumulated over 16,000 points, enough to buy hundreds of drones. The unit's front-line drone operations are well known. The Brave1 Market website lists the unit as the top earner of combat points in March.
Other high-earning units include the 59th Separate Assault Brigade, part of the Unmanned Systems Forces, and the 3rd Separate Special Purpose Regiment, part of the Special Operations Forces.
Read the original article on Business Insider
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
An immigrant in Wisconsin has been released on bond after false accusation he threatened Trump
MADISON, Wis. -- A man who was falsely accused of threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump and threatened with deportation to Mexico was released Thursday from a Wisconsin jail on bond, three weeks after federal immigration agents arrested him. Ramón Morales Reyes, 54, was accused of a writing a letter threatening Trump in a social media post by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that got widespread national coverage. The post includes Morales Reyes' photo and an excerpt from the letter he purportedly wrote in English. But the claims quickly fell apart as Wisconsin authorities determined that Reyes, who doesn't speak English well or write in the language, was framed. Morales Reyes was a victim in a violent 2023 attack where his bike was stolen. According to authorities, the alleged attacker, Demetric D. Scott, forged the letter to try to clear his case. Morales Reyes was set to be a witness in Scott's July trial for armed robbery and aggravated battery. Morales Reyes was released in the afternoon after paying the $7,500 bond that an immigration judge set on Tuesday. Speaking to WISN-TV, Morales Reyes said he and his lawyer will fight his deportation. 'I believe (the lawyer) knows the history and all of you know what happened," he said. He was later met by relatives and members of the Milwaukee-based immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera, which has helped work on his case. Christine Neumann-Ortiz, the organization's executive director, said Morales Reyes was 'relieved' and 'very grateful for all of the support he's received.' Judge Carla Espinoza said at the immigration court hearing in Chicago that Morales Reyes was not a threat to the community. Morales Reyes, a married father of three U.S. citizen children, works as a dishwasher in Milwaukee. He was arrested by immigration agents last month after dropping a child off at school. He immigrated from Mexico in the 1980s and doesn't have legal permission to be in the U.S. This year, he applied for a U visa, which is for people in the country illegally who are victims of serious crimes. Getting such a visa can take years. Homeland Security issued a statement to reporters last week saying that although Morales Reyes was no longer considered a threat to Trump, federal attorneys would still pursue an immigration case. The government alleges that Morales Reyes reentered the U.S. numerous times without a visa. Morales Reyes had been held in the Dodge Detention Center in Juneau, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) north of Milwaukee. He was released after the federal government did not appeal the setting of his bond. Noem's social media post blaming Morales Reyes for an assassination attempt, which was circulated by Trump supporters, remains online.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
GURU Organic Energy Corp (GUROF) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Gross Margins and ...
Net Revenue: $6.5 million, reflecting transition impacts in Canada and absence of last year's US Costco rotation. Gross Margin: 59.7%, the highest in recent history, driven by pricing discipline and supply chain efficiencies. Net Loss: Improved 46.5% to $1.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA Loss: Improved 55% to $1.2 million. Cash Position: $25.3 million with no debt, plus $10 million in unused credit facilities. US Sales Growth: 38.9% increase, excluding last year's wholesale club rotations. Amazon US Sales Growth: 50% year-to-date growth with a new monthly sales high in March. Amazon Canada Sales Growth: 41% growth. SG&A Expenses: Dropped 26.2%, showing cost discipline. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Sign with GUROF. Release Date: June 12, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. GURU Organic Energy Corp (GUROF) transitioned back to a direct distribution model in Canada, allowing for more control and agility in operations. The company reported a 38.9% increase in US sales, excluding last year's wholesale club rotations, indicating strong growth in the market. Amazon US sales hit a new monthly high in March with a 50% growth year-to-date, showing strong online performance. Gross margins reached a recent record of 59.7%, driven by pricing discipline and supply chain efficiencies. The company's cash position remains strong with $25.3 million and no debt, providing financial stability and flexibility for future investments. Net revenue was impacted by the planned transition away from the Canadian distributor, leading to temporary product availability issues. Retail shipments in Canada were down 24% due to order and shipment shortfalls before the transition to the direct distribution model. The company experienced a net loss of $1.4 million, although it was nearly cut in half compared to previous periods. There were significant shipment shortfalls in April, with shipments down 45% compared to the previous year. The absence of last year's US Costco rotation impacted net revenue, highlighting reliance on certain distribution channels. Q: Can you explain the discrepancy between scan data and shipment decline? Was this due to the transition, and would you have had to take back products if they were shipped to Pepsi and not sold? A: Carl Goyette, CEO: The decline is not related to inventory buyback as the distribution agreement was still active during Q2. The decline in scan data was due to retail stock shortages and fewer promotions by our distributor. Online sales in Canada increased by 20%, but retail shipments were down 24%, especially in April. This is expected to be temporary as we have transitioned to a new distribution model with 25 distributors and 120 sales reps ready to push sales. Q: If you had sold more to Pepsi, would you have had to buy it back later? A: Carl Goyette, CEO: Ideally, more sales to Pepsi would have meant more shipments. We had a joint business plan for flat sales, but saw declines. We had an agreement to take back some inventory at the end of the agreement. Q: Are there any upcoming wholesale club rotation comparison challenges? A: Carl Goyette, CEO: There are no significant upcoming comparison challenges. Last year's Q2 included $1.4 million from Costco rotations, but current indicators show growth in the US. Future sales will increase, but there are no past comps to affect them. Q: How sustainable are the declines in operating expenses, particularly in selling expenses? A: Ingy Sarraf, CFO: The decline is sustainable due to increased efficiency and focus on high-impact ROI activities. The current dollar level of G&A is expected to continue, though it may grow slightly with increased activities. Q: Could you clarify your comments on achieving profitability? A: Ingy Sarraf, CFO: We are taking steps towards returning to profitability, as evidenced by our lowest losses since 2021. We are focused on ensuring the business is scalable and profitable in due time. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Russia attacks Ukraine with 4 missiles and 55 UAVs: 43 targets downed, 9 strikes occurred
Since the evening of 12 June, Russian forces have attacked Ukraine with four Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and 55 Shahed-type attack UAVs and various types of decoy drones; 43 targets were destroyed, but there were nine strikes. Source: Ukrainian Air Force on Telegram Quote: "As of 09:00, air defence has downed 43 enemy Shahed-type UAVs and other types of drones in the north, east and south of the country. Twenty-eight were shot down by firepower, and 15 disappeared from radar/were suppressed by electronic warfare." Details: It is reported that the Russians attacked Kharkiv, Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. Strikes were recorded in nine locations. The air attack was repelled by aircraft, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units and mobile fire groups from the Ukrainian defence forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
