The retrieval of fallen soldiers has become a perilous undertaking for Ukrainian volunteer groups, often conducted under constant drone and artillery fire, according to Oleksiy Yakov, head of the volunteer organization Placdarms. “You are constantly under attack by drones or artillery. The danger is one hundred percent. It’s unclear whether you’ll reach that place or not. It’s also unclear whether you’ll get out of there or not. But you go. You understand why you’re doing it. Because there is no one to stand up for them. They need to be brought back. They hoped – if something happens, they will be found, they will be buried. And we go. We are afraid, sometimes very afraid. But we go and do everything possible,” Yakov stated.
The grim task often involves recovering remains left exposed for extended periods, with evidence suggesting the beliefs of those who perished. Reports indicate that animal scavenging frequently scatters skeletal remains, complicating recovery efforts. In some cases, vegetation has grown over the sites of fallen soldiers, obscuring their location.
Ukraine’s ability to adapt civilian drones for military purposes, effectively creating “flying artillery,” has been a significant factor in the conflict, according to Jānis Slaiņis, a major in the Latvian Zemessardze (Home Guard). Slaiņis noted the prevalence of videos online showing Ukrainian forces attaching explosives or hand grenades to commercially available drones and deploying them against Russian positions and armored vehicles. This adaptation, he stated, was unexpected in previous conflicts.
The Ukrainian military is investing heavily in drone technology, allocating 502 million euros for drone procurement this year. The planned acquisitions include strike drones, drones for artillery correction and ammunition delivery, and drones for medical evacuation. Ukraine is also reportedly forming dedicated drone companies, a first-of-its-kind initiative globally.
Even as Ukraine utilizes specialized attack drones such as the Bayraktar and Switchblade, the adaptation of civilian drones for offensive operations has proven particularly impactful. Slaiņis highlighted the use of these modified drones for targeted assassinations, even within Russian territory, describing attacks where explosives are detonated directly above enemy targets.
This tactic echoes methods employed during World War I, where aircrews manually dropped ordnance over enemy lines. The key difference, Slaiņis pointed out, is the remote control capability of modern drones. The increasing sophistication of drone warfare is also being observed as a potential catalyst for a new wave of drone terrorism, according to a recent analysis by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. The Russo-Ukrainian War is described as an “innovation hub” for drone warfare, accelerating advancements in drone scale, speed, and range.
Recent reports indicate that Ukrainian forces are now capable of destroying over 80% of Russian targets using various types of drone systems, many of which are domestically produced. The use of long-range drones, such as the An-196 Liutyi, is becoming increasingly common, targeting oil refineries, fuel depots, and military hubs within Russia, straining Moscow’s air defenses. These long-range drones are assembled and launched at night from secret locations within Ukraine.