Drone warfare intensifies as Ukraine holds critical line near Pokrovsk
The commander of the unmanned systems battalion of the 12th Azov Brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard, known by the callsign Bud, believes robots will soon become a key force on the battlefield in the Pokrovsk sector. (Photo: NV)
Russian assaults have failed to break through Ukrainian defenses along a key northern flank of the Pokrovsk sector, where one brigade is increasingly relying on drones and robotics to reshape the battlefield, a battalion commander told NV.
Settlements including Bilytske, Rodynske, and Hryshyne have appeared daily in Ukraine’s General Staff reports as focal points of fighting, with 42 Russian assault attempts recorded in the area on April 19 alone, yet none succeeded in breaching Ukrainian positions.
A 12–13 kilometer defensive line in this sector is held by the 12th Special Purpose Brigade Azov of Ukraine’s National Guard, part of the First Corps, where a rapidly expanded unmanned systems battalion plays a central role in stopping Russian advances.
The unit, commanded by an officer known by the callsign “Bud,” has grown from about 170 personnel a year ago to more than 450 today, operating six FPV drone positions and a full spectrum of unmanned systems—from reconnaissance drones to loitering munitions, heavy bombers, and ground robotic platforms.
Preventing Russian assault groups from reaching Ukrainian positions remains the battalion’s primary mission, the commander said.
Russian forces have shifted toward continuous infantry assaults rather than large mechanized offensives, as widespread drone use makes armored breakthroughs increasingly difficult, the officer said. Drone teams can stop attacks involving six to ten vehicles, especially with support from adjacent units.
Even heavily armored Russian infantry fighting vehicles—dubbed “turtles” for their added protection—are typically struck multiple times by drones before reaching their attack positions, and the commander said he could not recall a single case where such vehicles reached Ukrainian lines.
Motorcycles, however, present a more challenging target due to their speed and maneuverability across open terrain, making them harder for FPV drone pilots to hit in real time.
Despite that advantage, Russian troops conducting motorcycle assaults face near-certain death within what the commander described as a “kill zone” extending up to 20 kilometers from the front line, where both sides maintain a high density of strike capabilities.
Ukrainian forces are also deploying longer-range strike systems, including aircraft-type FPV drones capable of hitting targets 30–40 kilometers away and loitering munitions with a range of up to 70 kilometers.
FPV drone warfare remains one of the most technically demanding fields, requiring four to five months of training before operators can be deployed and up to a year to develop basic proficiency, the commander said. Real combat conditions—particularly electronic warfare interference—cannot be replicated in simulators, he added.
Some operators within the unit have achieved exceptional results, including confirmed strikes at distances exceeding 40 kilometers using standard FPV drones, after carefully analyzing enemy jamming frequencies, weather conditions, and flight routes.
Heavy Russian electronic warfare saturation in key sectors such as the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad and Druzhkivka-Kostiantynivka areas has forced Ukrainian units to constantly adapt frequencies and tactics, following a buildup of Russian countermeasures after earlier Ukrainian successes in targeting logistics.
Ground robotic systems have emerged as the newest addition to the battalion’s arsenal, with operational deployments beginning only in early 2026.
These systems have already been used in combat, including a mission in which explosive-laden robotic platforms destroyed a key passage across an anti-tank ditch that Russian forces had been using to advance.
Robotic systems are also being used for logistics, and while they have not yet been used to directly eliminate enemy personnel, the commander said such applications are imminent.
The unit plans to deploy robotic observation and strike posts along key Russian approach routes in the coming days, particularly to maintain battlefield awareness during poor weather conditions when aerial reconnaissance is limited.
Six to eight such robotic teams would be sufficient to cover the brigade’s main defensive directions, the commander said.
The role of robotic systems is expected to grow rapidly in the coming months, alongside continued expansion of drone warfare, fundamentally reshaping how positions are held and contested.
Some front-line positions could soon be secured primarily through robotic presence rather than infantry, potentially marking the beginning of what the commander described as a near-term shift toward a “war of the future.”
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