Thread by @revishvilig

Robert Brovdi, Commander of the Ukrainian 414th Separate Brigade of Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems - Madyar's Birds, shares valuable insights into the evolution of drone warfare:

Drones have fundamentally changed the doctrine of the Russia-Ukraine war. 1/14 ⬇️

The timely appearance of drones and their increasing role in combat effectiveness—now responsible for over 50% of confirmed kills, even by conservative estimates—has made commanders highly dependent on them. 2/14

In the first year of drone operations, we were able to hit about 150 to 200 targets per month. This served as a significant motivator for us, as we were actually taking out the first units of armored vehicles. 3/14

Eventually, we surpassed the threshold of 1,000 targets in a single month, and this number only accounts for direct losses inflicted on enemy personnel and equipment. 4/14

We are responsible for more than 140 km within 22 brigades, not counting the "ears" that conduct field operations. When this started to bear fruit, it gave us, in my opinion, the most important effect—motivation. 5/14

The undisputed dominant leaders among weapon systems are two types: FPV drones and hexacopters—our so-called "Baba Yaga" night bombers. 6/14

These two categories, along with their various models, currently account for—without exaggeration—around 90% of all inflicted damage and destruction of enemy personnel and equipment. 7/14

The remainder comes from munitions drops by Mavic drones, strike wings, and kamikaze wings that fly beyond the horizon. 8/14

The vast majority of drones supplied to the front line are adapted over time due to shifting battlefield conditions, changes in frequency usage, and—most importantly—the expertise of engineers working within the teams. 9/14

The improvement of drone technical characteristics depends not just on factory specifications but on real-time modifications. 10/14

Factors such as payload capacity, desired penetration depth, and warhead weight all play a role, allowing drones to be used at ranges six to eight times greater than their official specs indicate. 11/14

This isn't about setting Guinness World Records—it’s about carrying out precision strikes daily, around the clock, on a regular basis. 12/14

The war will not end soon. Russia is currently sending about 30,000–35,000 new recruits to the front each month. Currently, 20,000 Russian soldiers each month are killed or severely wounded in combat. 13/14

We need to do one simple thing—push ourselves by a third and reach a balance of [eliminations] at 30,000 per month. That way, we will equalize the inflow and outflow of their troops. 14/14