Recruit center officer compares dangers faced by infantry soldiers and drone operators in combat

“In the military, there is a rule that the infantry are the Atlases who hold the front, and everyone else behind them must help the infantry. Therefore, the most dangerous job, of course, remains with the infantry — those who take direct part in assault operations,” Yakovlev said on Radio NV.

He added that the position of drone operator is safer than that of an infantryman.

“But earlier, the top priority for the enemy to destroy was snipers — they hated them the most, called them by one bad word. Now, they call drone operators that. This is because most of the strikes along the entire line of combat are carried out by drones and everything related to them — on both our side and theirs. Naturally, now the enemy is trying to come up with as much equipment and as many technical means as possible to locate people who operate drones,” said the officer of the 6th Recruitment Center.

Contract 18-24
On Feb. 7, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that to attract Ukrainians ages 18 to 24 to the army, Ukraine would introduce a one-year contract with high pay.

On Feb. 11, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense officially launched the voluntary service format Contract 18-24 for Ukrainians willing to join the Defense Forces for one year.

On June 27, the government approved a bill providing a one-year deferment from mobilization for volunteers who have completed service under Contract 18-24.

On July 31, the minister said that the Verkhovna Rada had passed a bill expanding educational rights for youth under Contract 18-24. In particular, service members will be able to study at universities without leaving service.

On Aug. 11, the Ministry of Defense announced that the General Staff had approved the list of Armed Forces units and regular positions for unmanned systems operators now available to volunteers serving under Contract 18-24.

Among the units that volunteers ages 18 to 24 can join are, in particular, the 414th Separate Brigade of Strike Unmanned Aerial Systems “Birds of Madyar,” the 20th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment “K-2,” the 427th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment “Rarog,” and the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment “Achilles,” among others.

In addition, the Contract 18-24 program was expanded to include the following regular positions:

• Operator of tracked (wheeled) ground robotic systems

• Operator of engineering ground robotic systems

• Operator of fixed-wing UAVs for combat and special purposes

• Operator of multirotor UAV complexes for combat and special purposes

• FPV drone operator

• UAV complex operator-technician

• UAV complex reconnaissance operator

• UAV complex technician