Hobbyists are crucial to the war effort. Why does the government want them to stop? Read in browser August 6th 2023 The Extraordinary Story Long reads and life from 1843 magazine, delivered every Sunday UKRAINE Meet the “crazy professors” making drones for Ukraine Hobbyists are crucial to the war effort. Why does the government want them to stop? The day before Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” was a good one for Alexei and Kostya, tech entrepreneurs in their 30s from the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine. An investor had agreed to fund their startup: the friends were developing a device to make electric-car charging-points more efficient. Alexei was an electronics engineer at Kherson State University. Kostya was the manager of the local Apple Store. (They didn’t want to give their surnames.)  Within days, Kherson fell to the Russians and the men’s plans were in tatters. The Apple Store was looted and closed; university classes were suspended. The men joined the resistance – Alexei made explosives in his apartment while Kostya drove his red Tesla round the city pretending to be a taxi but actually delivering ammonia to bombmakers. When Kherson was liberated in November, they started a new business: making drones for the Ukrainian army. Read the full article → Get The Economist free for a month Stay connected with radically independent journalism Subscribe   Summer reading TIBET China wants to choose the next Dalai Lama. He has other plans As rival candidates are lined up to succeed the Tibetan spiritual leader, Brook Larmer unpicks the politics of reincarnation IRAQ The Baghdad job: who was behind history’s biggest bank heist? Criminals stole $2.5bn in broad daylight. Nicolas Pelham goes on their trail Also from 1843 magazine FILMS | BEHIND THE STORY The bank heist of the century How our correspondent pieced together the story Also from The Economist SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE Sign up to our new defence newsletter Spanning everything from military strategy and front-line dispatches to analysis of cutting-edge weaponry, The War Room will keep you informed on defence stories in both the battlefield and the boardroom. We’d like to hear from you Share your feedback via the email address below. Email [email protected]   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here. This email has been sent to: couponkirk. If you'd like to update your details please click here. Replies to this email will not reach us. If you don't want to receive these updates anymore, please unsubscribe here. Keep updated Advertising Info Terms & Conditions Help Privacy Policy Copyright © The Economist Newspaper Limited 2023. All rights reserved. Registered in England and Wales. No.236383   Registered office: The Adelphi, 1–11 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6HT This email was sent to: 0033z000035ghg5aae This email was sent by: The Economist Newspaper Ltd., The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London, London, WC2N 6HT, GB