News of War Staff Writer
Ukrainian servicemen of the Rarog UAV squadron of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade operate a first person view (FPV) drone at a position near the town of Horlivka, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine January 17, 2024. REUTERS/Inna Varenytsia
Donetsk Region, Ukraine - A Ukrainian Soldier and His Drone on the Front Line
In the Donetsk region of Ukraine, a soldier stationed near the front line is seen peering into video goggles, gripping a control set firmly in both hands as he operates a drone amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The soldier, known by the call sign "Sam", glances upwards, voicing his frustration: "There's no video."
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, have become indispensable to the Ukrainian military since Russia escalated its invasion in February 2022. At any given moment, hundreds of these drones could be surveilling Russian positions across eastern and southern Ukraine.
Yet, many of these drones are rapidly and inexpensively constructed by volunteers, leading to a compromise in quality that impacts Ukraine's capability to monitor and engage Russian forces.
At a secret location along the eastern frontline in the Donetsk area, members of the "Raroh" squadron express a preference for fewer but higher-quality devices, favouring 10 well-constructed drones over 50 less dependable ones.
"Most common problems are problems with the video link and with the control link," Sam remarked during a recent visit by Reuters. "And most of them are because of low-quality parts that are used very often to make the drones even cheaper."
Several drone operators have emphasised the need for UAVs to undergo testing before being deployed in combat.
"We must test drones supplied by new producers or made by a civilian," said an operator known as "Fest". "In addition to losing the drone itself, we can lose ammunition which is not cheap."
"Pit", another operator, highlighted the importance of standardisation for drones, enabling operators to anticipate the functionality of the devices they are tasked to use.
"You work a lot and have to do flight after flight while drones differ a lot. One has different controllers, another different settings, and so on," he said. "When under pressure, it happens that you miss a detail and it leads to missing a target."
A Crucial Element in Ukraine's Military Strategy
The Ukrainian defence ministry did not provide an immediate response to a Reuters enquiry regarding the soldiers' statements.
The deployment of First Person View (FPV) drones in warfare is one of Ukraine's more successful cost-effective tactics on the battlefield.
Although Russia has increased its drone capabilities since the beginning of the conflict, improving its countermeasures against Ukrainian UAVs through electronic warfare, drones remain a critical component of Ukraine's military efforts.
The drones used range from small, remotely controlled UAVs to larger ones capable of penetrating hundreds of kilometres into Russian territory. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced plans for Kyiv to produce 1 million drones in 2024.
Video footage released by the Ukrainian military, showcasing the use of UAVs in action, depicts a small drone carrying an explosive device flying into a Russian armoured vehicle housed in a garage before the screen goes blank. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the authenticity of this footage.
Despite their significant impact, Sam acknowledges that drones alone cannot determine the outcome of the war. Artillery remains a vital tool against Russian forces entrenched in fortified trenches and dugouts.
Ukraine has informed its allies of a dwindling supply of ammunition.
"This war has like a high-tech side of it and still the old-school trench warfare side of it," Sam observed. "Modern warfare today combines modern tactics with old-school tactics working together."