Ukrainian assault unit reveals how drones changed war and cost of victory | RBC-Ukraine
AI Analysis
A Ukrainian assault unit reports that drones have fundamentally altered warfare, rendering traditional battlefield tactics less effective and prioritizing adaptability and personnel preservation. The unit emphasizes the 'transparency' of the battlefield due to ubiquitous drone surveillance, necessitating a shift towards drone-centric operations and a focus on minimizing casualties through drone-supported reconnaissance and strikes. Recruitment and training now heavily emphasize drone operation and integration with experienced pilots.
Key Takeaways
- Drones are now essential for all significant missions, surpassing the effectiveness of traditional roles like snipers.
- The battlefield is 'transparent' – movement is easily detectable by both sides.
- Personnel preservation is prioritized over objective attainment if excessive risk is involved.
- New recruits undergo 70 days of training, integrating with experienced drone pilots before frontline deployment.
- The unit emphasizes trust and responsibility over traditional military coercion.
Why It Matters
This report highlights the complete integration of drones into modern combined arms warfare, specifically within a frontline assault unit. The emphasis on drone-centric tactics and personnel preservation suggests a shift in operational doctrine focused on minimizing losses and maximizing situational awareness. This approach may indicate a broader trend in Ukrainian military strategy and could influence future defense procurement and training.
Ukrainian assault unit reveals how drones changed war and cost of victory | RBC-Ukraine
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'No mission worth senseless loss of lives': Ukrainian assault unit on drones and cost of victory
Fri, May 01, 2026 - 10:25
17 min
No one agrees to give up territory for "peace", defenders say
Kateryna Honcharova Kateryna Danishevska
Officer of 1st Separate Assault Regiment with call sign Pyrotechnician (photo: provided by soldiers of 1st Separate Assault Regiment)
Modern war is no longer only about infantry and artillery. Even assault units cannot carry out any important mission today without aerial drone support (unmanned aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance and strikes). Often, every movement of enemy forces is visible in real time. However, the enemy also monitors our movements using drones.
About choosing between mission objectives and safety, recruitment, the role of drones on the frontline, and the philosophy of preserving personnel, RBC-Ukraine spoke with an officer of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment (Ukrainian assault unit) with the call sign Pyrotechnician and a sergeant with the call sign IT Specialist.
Key points:
- War of systems: Old battlefield technologies have been replaced by a reality where one soldier with a drone can be more effective than a professionally trained sniper.
- Transparent frontline: With drones, it is impossible to conceal movement. Victory goes to those who adapt faster, act smarter, and remain less visible to the enemy.
- Value of life: The main goal of a commander is to complete the mission and bring people back. No objective is worth senseless losses if there is an alternative.
- Safe recruitment: In the 1st Separate Assault Regiment (Ukrainian assault unit), no one is sent directly to the zero line (frontline combat zone). Recruits undergo 70 days of training and are gradually integrated into operations alongside experienced drone pilots.
- Responsibility instead of fear: Discipline in the unit is based on trust and the value of each specialist, not on formal military coercion.
- Destruction as routine: The first successful drone strike (dropping explosives from a drone) brings an emotional surge due to saving fellow soldiers, but over time, combat work becomes a routine.
"The emergence of drones has made the battlefield transparent. Everyone sees everything."
The commander with the call sign Pyrotechnician has had a long combat path since 2016, rising from a machine gunner to a platoon commander. He also served as an instructor and commander of a reconnaissance unit. In 2025, he served as a company commander in a strike drone unit (specializing in attacking unmanned aerial systems) and later received the rank of junior lieutenant.
After the expansion of the unit, the Da Vinci battalion (well-known Ukrainian volunteer unit) was reorganized into the 1