As fierce fighting continues around the Ukrainian city of Vulhedar, Ukrainian forces are successfully using their drones to strike Russian aircraft.
With the arrival of spring, both sides are expected to increase the use of drones and other unmanned vehicles in the fighting areas.
On the frontline of the war in Ukraine, near the southeastern city of Vuhledar, Ukrainian forces are increasingly using drones. Ukrainian soldiers say the drones’ primary function is for reconnaissance purposes.
“This is how reconnaissance operations are done in the 21st century. Compared to 2014, now we no longer need to create reconnaissance units to send to the enemy. Now we just launch a drone and the person who commands it stays in a safe place”.
Private Danylo, who does not give his last name for security reasons, regularly launches reconnaissance drones for the tank brigade fighting near the town of Vuhledar. He even shows how he shoots down Russian drones using his drone.
“We spotted an enemy drone and were ordered to shoot it down by all possible means… We launched our drone towards their drone and were surprised when it started moving towards our drone,” he says.
His unit has released footage in which the drone appears to launch a projectile and then collide several times with another drone over the combat zone.
“The special thing is that the drone can also carry cargo or weapons… Our drone, for example, it can carry a load of up to one and a half kilograms,” says a Ukrainian soldier.
Asked how the front line near Vuhledar might change come spring, soldier Danylo says there will be greater use of drones by both sides.
“With spring comes good weather, clear skies… This means more space for drones and other flying devices, so we’ll see more and more of these,” he says.
Ukrainian and Russian forces have widely used drones throughout the war, for reconnaissance purposes, as well as to strike enemy targets./VOA
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