Enterprises will be able to protect their employees from attacks by UAVs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russia has begun producing body armor for construction workers and industrial workers who have to work in high-risk conditions. Made from domestic materials, the equipment protects against splinters, but at the same time does not restrict movement and allows you to drive comfortably. The claimed characteristics of the product were checked during the tests: the armor withstood even a close rupture of the F-1 grenade ("Limonka"). For whom the new equipment is intended and how it differs from army bulletproof vests, see the Izvestia article.
Working armor
Unlike army models, the new equipment is designed for everyday use in working conditions and is intended primarily for construction workers, power engineers, employees of oil refineries and other enterprises. It does not restrict movement and at the same time provides protection from fragments that can pose a threat at dangerous facilities.
Founder of TECHNOCRIPTONITE company Vitaly Nevmerzhitsky
Image source: Photo: TECHNOCRYPTONITE LLC
Army bulletproof vests are not always suitable for civilian specialists due to the design features and operating conditions, Vitaly Nevmerzhitsky, founder of TECHNOCRYPTONITE, told Izvestia. Military equipment is designed for other loads and tasks, and its camouflage coloring can make an employee more visible to enemy drone operators.
— The army bulletproof vest has a camouflage pattern, which unmasks the employee and makes him a visible target for UAV operators. In addition, it is designed for other loads and tasks: military personnel receive special training, unlike civilian specialists. An industrial bulletproof vest, on the contrary, is designed taking into account the specifics of their daily tasks," Nevmerzhitsky explained.
Strength test
During the development, special attention was paid to convenience. According to the manufacturer, the equipment does not interfere with bending over, lifting loads and driving a car. A special sling is provided for the evacuation of the victim.
— The industrial bulletproof vest is designed specifically for the civilian sector. It has a low weight, it is flexible and ergonomic. The design allows you to move freely and perform work tasks. The escape sling can withstand a load of up to 260 kg. When carrying a victim, it helps to straighten his body, which speeds up and facilitates evacuation," the company said.
Photo: Photo: TECHNOCRIPTONITE LLC
Image source: iz.ru
The durability of the product was tested with the participation of experienced military personnel. For this purpose, an F-1 military defensive grenade was used.
— The explosion was initiated at a distance of 20 cm from the bulletproof vest. The ballistic material did not receive a single penetration, and the case also showed good results, the company said.
Mass production of body armor began in 2025, although the model itself was developed much earlier. During this time, more than a thousand products have been produced. According to Nevmerzhitsky, civilian specialists are already using the equipment in the Belgorod, Kursk, Zaporizhia regions, the DPR, the LPR and the Crimea.
Protection for the peaceful front
Bulletproof vests may be needed not only by builders and employees of industrial enterprises, but also by rescuers, doctors, repairmen of electric networks and gas services, Alexander Perendzhiev, associate professor of the Department of Political Analysis and Socio-Psychological Processes at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Reserve Colonel, told Izvestia. According to him, all of them are at risk of being attacked by drones, especially when working in dangerous areas. Therefore, protective equipment should be provided for different categories of civilian specialists.
— Where people are in danger and may be attacked by drones, it is necessary to use body armor. It may be worth providing additional protective equipment, such as hard hats. This should become part of the new safety regulations for specialists working under the threat of attacks," the expert noted.
Image source: Photo: TECHNOCRYPTONITE LLC
The production of body armor for civilian specialists should not be limited to the proposals of individual private companies, Perendzhiev stressed. He believes that it is necessary to provide budgetary financing for the purchase of such equipment in order to ensure the protection of workers who work in high-risk areas.
— This is a new direction, but it is necessary to allocate funds for it and open separate budget items. People must be protected," the expert concluded.
Industrial bulletproof vests can also be useful for volunteers traveling with humanitarian supplies to the free zone, Ilya Ipatov, a military volunteer and head of the Department for work with the Cossacks at the Razumovsky Moscow State University (MGUTU), told Izvestia. According to him, volunteers often go to dangerous areas without body armor: they use the funds they could spend on their own equipment to purchase humanitarian aid. Therefore, he considers the appearance of civilian models that do not resemble the usual army armor an important step in ensuring their safety.
— Such bulletproof vests do not stand out against the background of ordinary clothes, do not attract unnecessary attention and make a person less noticeable to the UAV operator, increasing his chances of avoiding an attack. I consider their appearance to be an important step in ensuring the safety of employees," Ipatov said.
Image source: Photo: TECHNOCRYPTONITE LLC
According to the volunteer, the protection of the corps alone is not enough.
— A bulletproof vest covers the chest and abdomen, but during an explosion, fragments can hit other parts of the body. Therefore, a helmet is also necessary," he added.
Earlier, Izvestia wrote that Russia had developed a special bulletproof vest for women. Its design was adapted to take into account anatomical features: a special cut was provided in the chest area and the length of the front panel was increased in order to maintain the necessary body protection area. The product has already been tested in the SVO area and has received positive feedback.
Such equipment is especially in demand among medical women who have to work near the line of contact and evacuate the wounded under shelling. Military experts also drew attention to the importance of individual fitting of body armor: even a slight displacement of the protective elements can leave vital organs vulnerable.
Sofia Sokolovskaya
