Ukraine scraps outdated drone rules to meet battlefield needs
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has canceled outdated wartime regulations on drone use, simplifying rules for operations and maintenance, the ministry’s press service announced on July 17.
Under the updated policy, flight regulations governing state aviation will no longer apply to all single-use drones, as well as to Class I unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the “micro” (tactical drones under 2 kg, such as the Mavic 3) and “mini” (battlefield tactical drones up to 15 kg, like the DJI Matrice 300) categories.
Most drones will also no longer need to be registered in the official state aircraft registry.
The Defense Ministry additionally eased medical requirements for Class I drone operators. These personnel will no longer be required to undergo a formal flight medical commission to determine their fitness to operate UAVs. Instead, authorization will be granted directly by their unit commanders.
Class I drone crews are also exempt from the broader state aviation medical protocols, aligning their duties more closely with real battlefield conditions.
Yuliia Marushevska, head of the Defense Ministry’s Office for Reform, said the changes reflect the evolving realities of the war.
“Orders issued before the full-scale invasion imposed requirements that are difficult or impossible to fulfill under the current conditions of intense combat, rapidly advancing technologies, and the vast variety of UAV systems being deployed,” she said.
She added that some outdated rules were not only unworkable, but dangerous—such as one regulation requiring operators to visibly display their contact information on drones, putting them at risk of being identified and targeted.
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