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Since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, drones have played an important role in carrying out surveillance missions and long-range attacks. Last year, Ukraine deployed a new type of drone that is changing the way battle is fought on the front lines. VOA correspondent Yan Boechat reports from Ukraine's Donbass region that the drone, which allows the operator to see the battlefield as if inside the aircraft, has turned into a nightmare for soldiers on both sides of the battlefield. .
The Ukrainian military medical team is training to be even faster and to evacuate more quickly. This is all the more critical, as both sides are using drones that allow operators to see as if they were inside the small, low-cost, and deadliest flying craft. These drones are otherwise known as FPV.
“The enemy is using a new method; it started about six months ago, if not earlier," says a member of the Ukrainian forces.
In the southern part of Donbas, Ukrainian soldiers are training to increase the speed of action, knowing that the new drones can follow them closely to annihilate them. They understand that their next deployment to the front lines could be their last.
“One of the biggest challenges during evacuation is the presence of FPV drones. This often leads to delays of up to 12 hours or more. Any delay puts lives at risk," a member of the Ukrainian medical forces told VOA.
FPV drones are equipped with cameras that transmit images directly to the special goggles of their operators, who see the battlefield as if they were inside the aircraft. The operator commands the drone, equipped with explosive devices, through a tablet and crashes it into the target.
Ukrainian officials told VOA that the drones cost about $300. Drones fly very low, making them difficult to detect by radars, unlike conventional drones, which are easily tracked and easily eliminated by anti-aircraft units.
Low cost and high efficiency have made these drones widespread since mid-2023. Thanks to advanced communication and signal transmission technology, drones strike harder and penetrate deeper into enemy territory.
"Various transmission devices have appeared on the scene, significantly increasing the capabilities of FPV drones. This has led to increased effectiveness on the battlefield ," says the commander of the drone unit.
From a dark room deep in the forests of Donbass, the unit's commander directs the fleet of drones. A Ukrainian drone operator targets a Russian armored vehicle and crashes into it. Another drone tracks from a distance to confirm the outcome of the attack.
In the next room, 3D printers are producing plastic parts that will be fitted to electric motors bought in China. Dozens of these drones are sent to the front lines every day causing damage to Russian forces.
FPV drones may look like toys, but they carry bombs capable of destroying equipment and maiming personnel. Irina is a specialist in the field of computers and a volunteer pilot who has destroyed a high number of enemy targets.
"It's a strange feeling, because there are people inside the vehicles. But we are protecting ourselves by eliminating them" , says the Ukrainian operator.
She says she likes drones but hopes the war will end soon and she won't have to use weapons anymore.'/VOA
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