drone

From clearing rubble after strikes to hunting Russian drone pilots: story of Odesa native with call sign Kalmar — Viktor, where did your call sign Kalmar come from? — I ask the 37-year-old deputy company commander from the Dovbush Hornets UAV Battalion (part of the 68th Separate Airmobile Brigade named after Oleksa Dovbush of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine). — Is it some Odesa story? Or are you a fan of the famous South Korean series? 29.06.26 22:56 3 997 1 Previously in trend: Drone operators

"Drones need to fight drones." BlueShadow CEO Charles Maher on swarms of maritime interceptors meant to close skies in South BlueShadow is building a layered maritime defense system: swarms of uncrewed surface vessels that will detect and intercept Shaheds far from the shore. The first vessel is expected to be launched as early as this summer, with the first combat deployment planned for spring 2027. The company’s founder and CEO, former U.S. Navy submarine commander Charles Maher, told BusinessCensor how much a single interception will cost, why the system contains no Chinese components, and when drones will begin fighting drones without human involvement. 23.06.26 22:59 123 0 Previously in trend: Drone industry

Evolution of threat: how enemy is increasing its use of Shahed-type UAVs In 2025, the Russian army launched nearly 55,000 Shahed-type drones and their simulators across Ukraine. The number of air attack weapons used increased fivefold compared to 2024. 28.01.26 12:22 7 234 9 Previously in trend: Drone industry Use of Russian drones

Drone operator Minion: I once spotted b#stard dugout thanks to dog — I just tailed it Today’s interviewee is a young UAV operator known by the callsign Minion. She was likely given the callsign for both her young age and her petite build. She has been serving for more than a year and is currently with the 1st Separate Medical Battalion. Before that, she spent a year trying to join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She is now working in different directions. 13.01.26 11:09 10 364 16 Previously in trend: Drone operators 1st Separate Medical Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Underestimating work of Mavics is one of key factors that enables enemy to carry out infantry infiltration Some time ago, at one sector of the front, I established coordination with UAV units of one brigade where the enemy managed to breach our defenses and penetrate to a significant depth. In the view of some commanders, the reason for the breakthrough was that the infantry was weak and did not engage in combat. 18.12.25 22:15 6 427 15

FPV pilot with call sign IIID: "Russians’ UAVs are mostly identical: power up and fly. It makes their work easier" Stage, rehearsals, performances – Dmytro Tretiak, an actor and musician from Kharkiv, lived for his art and plans for the future. But when Russia launched its war in Donbas in 2014, he did not stay on the sidelines: he supported the front and performed for Ukrainian troops. After the full-scale invasion, he returned to volunteer work but later decided it was time to join the army himself. 10.12.25 17:19 13 876 5

Call sign Deputy: "Ka-52 flew past us and fired missile. Quite sight! After that, mortar was hardly noticeable" Volodymyr earned the call sign "Deputy" for a reason, in peacetime, he was directly involved in politics, working as an aide to a member of parliament. His focus was mainly on local community issues in the Kyiv region. But when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, his life, like that of all Ukrainians, changed completely. 17.10.25 21:08 7 773 5 Previously in trend: Drone operators

We are constantly making progress, our technical unit assembles unique bombers that cannot be bought anywhere – Viacheslav Feoktistov, commander of strike UAV platoon of 23rd SMB Viacheslav Feoktistov (Skif) has led the strike UAV platoon of the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade (SMB) for a year. A native of Oleksandriia in the Kirovohrad region, he has served in the Armed Forces for two years and seven months. He speaks little and modestly about his exploits, clearly brightening when we begin to discuss his mission as a platoon leader. 15.09.25 19:50 4 086 3

How formation of strike UAV platoon of 13th Brigade "Khartiia" proceeding to destroy enemy UAVs positions I received a lot of requests after the post about the creation of a new unit, which "Khartiia" entrusted me to form, and I am very grateful to everyone who contacted me. 14.08.25 18:46 5 418 13

UAV pilots are people with golden hands and cat-like reflexes. Enemy EW operates wildly, yet despite that, they deliver good results – soldier Yurii Klymchuk When several brothers from one family fight to defend Ukraine, it is a double and in this case, a triple sacrifice. Junior Sergeant Yurii Klymchuk from Vinnychyna, who has two biological brothers also serving in the military, began his combat path in 2021 in the 14th Operational Assignment Brigade "Chervona Kalyna" of the National Guard of Ukraine. 11.07.25 16:45 3 507 2

Commander of "Minions," call sign Ramses: "In week, air battle can change so much that you won’t even remember how it was two months ago" Serhii, call sign Ramses, commands the "Minions" UAV-interceptor unit. He is originally from Kharkiv. Before the full-scale war, he owned a business, but it was destroyed by the Russians when they launched their offensive. He evacuated his family from the city and spent a month in Novovolynsk, contemplating his next steps. 25.06.25 20:04 8 807 5

Whoever wins sky wins war A critical mass of people is gradually forming those who understand what needs to be done and how. I am also a co-author of the thoughts outlined below. While there is nothing secret or unknown to most people at the front in this text, we do not claim to hold the ultimate truth. There is always room for additions and criticism. But it is better to start doing something before it’s too late. 10.06.25 18:31 6 573 16 Previously in trend: Use of drones by Armed Forces of Ukraine

Victory depends on how many Ukrainians take up arms – UAV operator Bond Bond, commander of the "Kotyky" (Ukrainian for "kittens" - ed. note) UAV platoon of the 130th Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) Battalion, is one of the fighters who returned from abroad in 2022 specifically to defend Ukraine. With prior experience as an infantryman and reconnaissance operative, he now takes pride in his unit and its accomplishments. 13.05.25 22:33 14 205 41 Previously in trend: War

Call sign Floki: "Some people told me, "What, are you going to fight instead of People’s Deputies and their children?’" Today, Volodymyr commands a crew of night bombers with the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment. Before the full-scale invasion, he had no ties to the military. He worked as an actor at the Kyiv Academic Puppet Theatre. He chose a thematic call sign — Floki, after one of the characters from the Irish-Canadian TV series Vikings. 12.05.25 19:40 8 867 37

Call sign "Panama": "In Kursk region, there were companies of wounded Russians sitting in trenches without water, food, or proper ammunition" "You could say that people like me were recruited through the announcement," Vitalii jokes. His call sign is Panama, and he’s recalling how he joined the army in May 2022. 02.05.25 22:33 11 222 3

Paratrooper Oleksandr Nykolaiko: "War will be won by "nerds", IT specialists. They are ones who can turn tide of events" This man has served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2008 and has been with the 80th Brigade since 2013. He took part in the formation of the 3rd Battalion Tactical Group in 2014, which, following the launch of the full-scale invasion, expanded into the now-legendary 82nd Brigade. Oleksandr left the unit several times, but whenever there was a need for him, he returned — despite suffering severe concussions and spinal problems. 29.04.25 23:00 9 827 31

"Our UAV has virtually no rivals. With 50-kilometre range you can strike headquarters of enemy companies and battalions, if not regiments" – Aerial Reconnaissance Officer Vitalii Umanets (Avtomaidan crew) Activist of Avtomaidan, volunteer, radio operator during the war — Vitalii Umanets has stayed true to this path of a person who cares deeply about the fate of his country. He is currently serving with the consolidated Avtomaidan UAV crew and takes pride in his unit’s effectiveness in eliminating the enemy. 28.04.25 20:44 25 518 3

Best unforgettable experiences are when you hit tank or artillery depots — UAV operator Andrii When you talk to a Ukrainian soldier who has no complaints about his command, you can hardly believe your ears. That was the case during an interview with UAV operator Andrii Bobrovytskyi (call sign "Vosmyi" – "Eight") from Kyiv region. In civilian life, he worked in environmental technology, and on the second day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he joined the Defense Forces. 02.04.25 22:25 4 130 3

Call sign Ahronom: "If we had any serious reinforcement, for example, with peacekeepers, Russia could find itself in extremely unfavorable position" Serhii has been fighting in Donbas for nearly three years. He commands a company of unmanned systems within the 5th Separate Assault Brigade, whose soldiers operate ground-based drones. His call sign is "Ahronom" (Agronomist), a call sign he received back in 2015 when he took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) as a member of the volunteer unit Carpathian Sich. At the time, he was a student at Podil State University, where he was studying agronomy. 01.04.25 22:44 7 701 17

Call sign Khort: As military force, we must ensure favorable negotiating position. We have to accomplish as much work as possible so that Ukraine can dictate its terms During the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), Maksym, call sign Hort, was a reconnaissance soldier in the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade. Now he is a deputy battalion commander in the 411th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment ’Yastruby.’ He is experienced and well-trained. In communication, he is sincere and direct. 07.03.25 22:55 8 966 12

Hero of Ukraine Tymofii Orel, Kyiv resident: "Until 2022, I was civilian, making music videos and films. Now, I destroy Russian equipment using UAVs" The junior sergeant became the first soldier in the 47th Brigade to receive the highest state award for his crew’s destruction of 148 enemy vehicles from the beginning of 2024 until the end of May. 12.02.25 13:05 3 463 2

Call Sign Expert: "It was just hell in Zaporizhzhia sector! The Russians could take a dugout and send 30-40 FPVs to destroy it in a day." Andrii, call sign Expert, is currently the commander of the "Ghost of Khortytsia" unmanned systems battalion of the 15th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, which was created on 13 December last year. He is a career soldier. He went to war in 2015 after graduating from university and was called up for military service. 09.01.25 13:52 21 334 5

Call sign Ara: "For FPVs, it makes no difference whether they fly into Korean or Russian face. Main thing is accurate result" Andrii is the pilot of the Drongo UAV Strike Group, which consists of four volunteer soldiers. They help the "Arei" Battalion of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army on the battlefield. They are currently fighting in the kursk region. He has the call sign Ara, which is how his friends called him back in civilian life. Before the Russian-Ukrainian war, he had been working in Russia for two years in construction, but returned to Ukraine in February 2014. 03.01.25 13:13 5 753 3

Denys Petrov, Chief Sergeant of Unmanned Systems Platoon: "It is currently very challenging to deploy infantry into position. It’s much better to do so with "eyes" from above He went to the military commissariat twice to be mobilized. At first, they didn’t want to take an 18-year-old boy with no service experience. Moreover, in March 2022, there were enough volunteer fighters. 20.12.24 21:33 7 178 5 Previously in trend: War

Chief Sergeant of UAV platoon, call sign Hedgehog: "There were cases when there were more drones with payload drops and spotter-drones in sky than soldiers on both sides" Before Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine, he had not served conscript service and had no plans to join the army. He worked as a purchasing manager for spare parts for coffee vending machines and coffee equipment. However, at the beginning of the invasion, he went to the military registration and enlistment office to take part in the confrontation with the enemy. Today, Oleksandr, call sign Hedgehog, is the Chief Sergeant of a UAV platoon of the 5th SAB. 06.12.24 22:27 8 139 1

Drone operator Vasyl, call sign Boroda: Katsaps were coming at us. So I have just dropped "F", dropped Mavic and ran. I was 23 metres high and hit orc right in head! It was so beautiful! The 23-year-old soldier of the 14th Brigade signed a contract with the training centre in Starychi exactly three weeks before the full-scale offensive. On 1 March, he was already in the brigade where he has been serving ever since, destroying the enemy with unmanned aerial vehicles. 04.12.24 14:16 6 697 2

UAV operator and actress, call sign Bond: ’When I was asked if I was scared, I said that only time I felt scared was in 2022, when I received my weapon. Because I didn’t know how to use it yet!’" I didn’t ask the heroine of this interview, "Tatiana, why Bond?" because everything was clear. Because if your surname is Bondarenko, and you are an actress (the capital’s Theatre on Mykhailivska) and a philologist, an expert in English and French, what else could your call sign be? 27.11.24 21:11 9 317 4

Political issue The Pentagon has asked civilian drone manufacturers to develop and provide inexpensive disposable drones with a range of up to 300 km for testing as early as December this year. The US Army intends to have a fleet of such drones based on the experience of our war. 04.10.24 20:53 18 308 42 Previously in trend: War

"Burning Watermelon" for Putin, or How lighter for 450 UAH destroys Russian tanks War changes not only a person’s way of life but also their daily vocabulary. Nowadays, each of us has heard about drones, many have seen enemy drones with their own eyes; some can even decipher the abbreviation "fpv". The public space is full of reports of Shaheds attacks, drone drops, the new Deputy Chief of Staff for the development of unmanned systems... 20.02.24 11:20 26 034 10

Oleh Huit, company commander of Rarog strike unmanned aerial vehicles of 24th Brigade: "During company’s existence, we have inflicted more than hundred million dollars worth of damage to enemy" In just a month, this unit destroyed six tanks, an MSTA-S system, seven armored vehicles, three self-propelled artillery guns, two cannons, five cars, six trucks, hit six more tanks, and confirmed the irrecoverable losses of 25 soldiers of the "second army of the world." 10.01.24 11:20 7 080 4 Previously in trend: War

How drones helped defeat Russian assault The kamikaze drones funded by the Censor.NET and Yurii Butusov communities helped defeat large-scale enemy attacks near Urozhayne two weeks ago. This battle showed how crucial drones have become for Ukraine. 12.10.23 14:00 11 219 0

Wild Hornets: Ukraine’s Tiny Armor-Busting, Trench-Clearing Secret Weapon Fast, low-cost and multi-functional – Wild Hornet drones smash enemy tanks on the frontline. But fundraising is vital to keep supply up with demand. 09.07.23 12:06 888 0 Previously in trend: War

Aerial scout Hleb Zhavoronkov: "We need to saturate front with large number of inexpensive copters" If before the beginning of a full-scale war someone could not know about the abbreviation UAV, now the term "drones" is used by everyone, from toddlers of kindergarten age to very elderly people. "We need more of these things," my neighbor-pensioner, a regular spectator of the television marathon, authoritatively explained to me. "Because they are the eyes of the infantry. Otherwise, the Russians would buy those Kamikazes and shoot at us!" 05.03.23 10:30 10 990 14 Previously in trend: War

US military aid to Ukraine: Goals and Political Symbolism Military aid by NATO countries, the United States in the first place, in Ukraine’s war for independence is of extreme importance for successful countering of Russian aggression. But is this aid suitable to the real situation and how efficient is it? 16.05.17 18:54 69 078 42 Previously in trend: Aid to Ukraine