The "Code 9.2" drone unit from the 92nd Assault Brigade is moving into a new launch position for a rare and significant mission: flying drones into Russia to drop mines on key roads inside enemy territory.
Twilight provides a brief window to set up new equipment and unload their Humvee before darkness makes these complex tasks impossible. They hope the dim light will conceal them from the constant surveillance of Russian drones overhead.
Within 30 minutes, they have set up a Starlink dish, a longer-range drone antenna, dozens of battery packs, and two large "Vampire" quadcopters in trenches and bunkers. As darkness sets in, their work begins.
The threat is immediate. Before operators Andrey and Artem can leave the bunker, a noise forces them back inside.
"Sssshhh," Andrey warns. "Orlan." The only defense against an Orlan—a spotter drone equipped with thermal cameras—is to hide and wait for it to pass. "They will be flying all night," he says.
The horizon is marked by flashes from distant explosions, with the Russian city of Belgorod, recently hit by Ukrainian strikes, twinkling in the center. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims his offensive into the Kharkiv region aims to create a buffer zone to protect a population that was safe before his invasion in February 2022.
The bunker quickly becomes an operations hub. The team struggles to adjust to the silence of their new location after months of fierce battles around Bakhmut. In the quiet, Artem expresses his anxiety: "You don’t know if you will get hit or not." He contrasts their current position, near the border with Russia, with the failed defense of Bakhmut last year. Here, the dense foliage and lack of fixed front lines allow reconnaissance groups to move freely. They joke about waking up to find a Russian soldier standing over them.
For Artem, this fight is personal. His parents still live in a partially destroyed village nearby. For 18 months, he told them he was stationed at a peaceful checkpoint, hiding his frontline involvement. Now, knowing he is close by, the responsibility weighs heavily on him. "Anxiety," he says, "My parents are right here, so if, God forbid, we fail somehow, it’s a big responsibility."
As night deepens, lit only by artillery flashes and a near-full moon, the team works quickly. Artem and Andrey attach mines to the drone using red lights. Suddenly, they hear a tiny whining noise.
"Run," Andrey commands, and they take cover. Once spotted, their position could become a target for airstrikes and artillery all night. With no vehicle and open ground around them, escape is risky.
After a few minutes, they resume work, preparing the explosives. Another drone passes close by, and they rush for shelter again. Interrupted and breathless, the team finally readies for launch.
In the bunker, pilot Sasha navigates the Vampire drone using night vision. He points out the border line and says, "Now, we are already in Russia."
"Did you bring your passport?" jokes Artem. "I can go without a visa," replies Sasha.
Before the war, the third team member was a comedian, once working with Volodymyr Zelensky, now the Ukrainian president. "He had one of the best vibes among the people I met," Andrey recalls. "The strongest energy. It was always interesting with him. We spent a lot of time together, one on one."
This camaraderie contrasts with Putin’s troops, who likely never shared a stage with their leader.
As the drone flies deeper into Russia, warning messages blare in the bunker, indicating GPS jammers are active. Sasha worries about losing the drone as the livestream cuts out. After tense moments, the signal returns. The drone continues its mission and drops two packages. The mines land on the road, hitting an armored car and a soft-skinned vehicle the next day.
However, the drone’s GPS system appears damaged, and it crashes upside down in a field. They also suspect an Orlan drone has followed it back, seeking their launch position. The team shelters as shells explode nearby. They retrieve the drone but must rely on their spare until dawn for repairs.
The sorties continue, with the team holding the record for the most Vampire flights in one night: 24. Their current target is Russia itself, symbolizing Kyiv's decision to take the fight to Moscow, highlighting the dangerous escalation in the conflict's third year.
Comments
Post a Comment