The Covert Ukrainian Unit Using Drones to Strike at the Heart of Russia
There's a team of heavily armed soldiers stationed in a vast agricultural field. They're unloading what could be mistaken for a small jet plane from a truck. This is their pride and joy - a drone.
This state-of-the-art drone can cover a distance of between 800 and 1,200 miles. Drones like this have been used by the Ukrainian military to target and hit oil refineries and depots situated deep within Russia, even reaching as far as Moscow and Siberia. One large-scale drone attack resulted in a thick black cloud of smoke over Moscow, as oil rained down on the city.
Striking Occupied Territories
These drones are also used to target locations in Ukraine that are under Russian control, including the southern peninsula of Crimea, which Russia seized and annexed in 2014. In recent times, these drones have been used to disrupt supply routes for Russian troops and target infrastructure like railway bridges, ferry crossings, and oil refineries. The Defense Minister of Ukraine noted that Crimea is being systematically isolated through these drone attacks, and it could soon become an isolated island.
The drone strike campaign, which started to take shape in 2024 and expanded intensively this year, has given Ukraine an edge in a drawn-out war that started more than four years ago when Russia invaded.
Turning the Tide
The soldiers in this field, handling the lightweight drone, are part of a secretive strike group known as the First Separate Center of Unmanned Systems. The unit's leader, known only by his call sign Charlie, guides us deeper into the field where more drones are stationed.
Charlie, a tall and reserved career officer in his 30s, has witnessed the impact of Ukraine's rapidly advancing defense technology on the war with Russia. He has been in charge of this unit for three years, a time when drone technology in Ukraine was in its infancy.
"Our defense forces may lack cruise and ballistic missiles, but our drones have become a game-changer in combat operations. They have hit our enemy hard," he says.
Hard-Hitting Drone Strikes
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the past year alone, long-range drones from Ukraine have hit over 356,000 Russian targets. This deep-strike campaign is Ukraine's strategy to weaken Russia's war machine, as the full-scale war has outlasted even World War I. Peace talks led by the U.S. to end Russia's war on Ukraine have hit a roadblock due to the ongoing war in Iran.
Charlie asserts that Ukraine has never been solely dependent on foreign aid, despite it falling by 99% under the Trump administration. He's witnessed his soldiers continually mastering new technologies to stay ahead of the Russians.
Preparing for Launch
As dusk falls, Charlie's team is busy setting up launch pads for several drones. Another soldier, known by the call sign Push, is seen preparing the drones. He mentions that they're launched nearly every night.
One can sense the excitement in Push's voice as he talks about the effectiveness of their work and the damage they're inflicting on the enemy.
Soon, it's launch time. In the moonlight, a group of soldiers wearing headlamps and infrared goggles gather around a motorcycle engine connected to the launching pad. A soldier, known by the call sign Uki, explains the setup. The engine roars loudly, and with a blast, the drone takes off, leaving a trail of fire as it disappears into the night sky. Nine more drones are launched, greeted by Charlie's approving smile with each successful takeoff.
Striking Critical Targets
Charlie doesn't disclose the targets of these drones, only mentioning that they are far away, either in Russia or Russian-controlled Ukraine. While Russia manages to intercept most of Ukraine's long-range drones, some manage to evade Russian air defenses and hit industrial and military sites, military logistics, and supply lines. The main focus is the infrastructure related to oil, which is a key component of Russia's economy.
Despite Russia's denial of any economic impacts from these strikes, oil refinery output has gone down. Fuel rationing has been reported in Moscow, parts of northern Russia, and parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Departing Swiftly After Launch
The team completes the drone launches in about two hours and quickly leave the field. "It's too dangerous to stay," says Charlie. "The Russians are always looking for us. We are their targets."
Charlie and Uki refer to these long-range drone strikes as "Ukrainian sanctions" and express their desire for a peaceful end to the war, but on their own terms, not by surrendering to Russia.
As the soldiers drive away into the pitch-black night, they leave no trace of their activities in the field, except for the lingering smell of burnt fuel.
There's a team of heavily armed soldiers stationed in a vast agricultural field. They're unloading what could be mistaken for a small jet plane from a truck. This is their pride and joy - a drone.
This state-of-the-art drone can cover a distance of between 800 and 1,200 miles. Drones like this have been used by the Ukrainian military to target and hit oil refineries and depots situated deep within Russia, even reaching as far as Moscow and Siberia. One large-scale drone attack resulted in a thick black cloud of smoke over Moscow, as oil rained down on the city.
Striking Occupied Territories
These drones are also used to target locations in Ukraine that are under Russian control, including the southern peninsula of Crimea, which Russia seized and annexed in 2014. In recent times, these drones have been used to disrupt supply routes for Russian troops and target infrastructure like railway bridges, ferry crossings, and oil refineries. The Defense Minister of Ukraine noted that Crimea is being systematically isolated through these drone attacks, and it could soon become an isolated island.
The drone strike campaign, which started to take shape in 2024 and expanded intensively this year, has given Ukraine an edge in a drawn-out war that started more than four years ago when Russia invaded.
Turning the Tide
The soldiers in this field, handling the lightweight drone, are part of a secretive strike group known as the First Separate Center of Unmanned Systems. The unit's leader, known only by his call sign Charlie, guides us deeper into the field where more drones are stationed.
Charlie, a tall and reserved career officer in his 30s, has witnessed the impact of Ukraine's rapidly advancing defense technology on the war with Russia. He has been in charge of this unit for three years, a time when drone technology in Ukraine was in its infancy.
"Our defense forces may lack cruise and ballistic missiles, but our drones have become a game-changer in combat operations. They have hit our enemy hard," he says.
Hard-Hitting Drone Strikes
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the past year alone, long-range drones from Ukraine have hit over 356,000 Russian targets. This deep-strike campaign is Ukraine's strategy to weaken Russia's war machine, as the full-scale war has outlasted even World War I. Peace talks led by the U.S. to end Russia's war on Ukraine have hit a roadblock due to the ongoing war in Iran.
Charlie asserts that Ukraine has never been solely dependent on foreign aid, despite it falling by 99% under the Trump administration. He's witnessed his soldiers continually mastering new technologies to stay ahead of the Russians.
Preparing for Launch
As dusk falls, Charlie's team is busy setting up launch pads for several drones. Another soldier, known by the call sign Push, is seen preparing the drones. He mentions that they're launched nearly every night.
One can sense the excitement in Push's voice as he talks about the effectiveness of their work and the damage they're inflicting on the enemy.
Soon, it's launch time. In the moonlight, a group of soldiers wearing headlamps and infrared goggles gather around a motorcycle engine connected to the launching pad. A soldier, known by the call sign Uki, explains the setup. The engine roars loudly, and with a blast, the drone takes off, leaving a trail of fire as it disappears into the night sky. Nine more drones are launched, greeted by Charlie's approving smile with each successful takeoff.
Striking Critical Targets
Charlie doesn't disclose the targets of these drones, only mentioning that they are far away, either in Russia or Russian-controlled Ukraine. While Russia manages to intercept most of Ukraine's long-range drones, some manage to evade Russian air defenses and hit industrial and military sites, military logistics, and supply lines. The main focus is the infrastructure related to oil, which is a key component of Russia's economy.
Despite Russia's denial of any economic impacts from these strikes, oil refinery output has gone down. Fuel rationing has been reported in Moscow, parts of northern Russia, and parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Departing Swiftly After Launch
The team completes the drone launches in about two hours and quickly leave the field. "It's too dangerous to stay," says Charlie. "The Russians are always looking for us. We are their targets."
Charlie and Uki refer to these long-range drone strikes as "Ukrainian sanctions" and express their desire for a peaceful end to the war, but on their own terms, not by surrendering to Russia.
As the soldiers drive away into the pitch-black night, they leave no trace of their activities in the field, except for the lingering smell of burnt fuel.