Hero of Russia Potashev told about the work of the UAV platoon on the Kupyansk direction

Maxim Potashev, the commander of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platoon and Hero of the Russian Federation with the call sign Zadira, told Izvestia about the work and training of UAV operators in the Kupyansk area of the special military operation (SMO).

Initially, the Karelia native served in the tank forces and also represented the Russian national team in tank biathlon competitions. However, he chose the military field of UAVs.

"I learned what a UAV was. No one was interested in it, I decided to try myself. And began to improve it myself. To develop this direction," Potashev said.

According to Izvestia correspondent Alexander Fedorchak, the fighter succeeded so well that he became the eyes of the entire group of troops "West" in the Kuyansk direction. He used a light drone to coordinate assault groups, adjust artillery, destroy entire units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), "smoke out" militants from forest belts and populated areas, win aerial drone battles, clear fields, and more.

At the same time, the UAV platoon commander is proud of the fact that he was the first in the NWO to start correcting tanks that fire from closed firing positions.

"I was in the brigade and did not hear that this on any direction directly used. Maybe we were the first to use it. We applied it perfectly. It proved itself and showed on the good side. And the enemy was afraid. I could launch it in one flight, drop some ammunition at that moment and correct the artillery at that moment," Potashev said.

Also in the rear area Maxim is engaged in training of UAV operators, teaching them to fly drones and helping to improve the equipment.

It is noted that Maxim Potashev received three St. George's Crosses, several Orders of Courage, a medal for bravery. Also in the St. George Hall of the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin personally hung on his uniform a gold star of the Hero of Russia.

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Earlier, on November 23, military expert Andriy Marochko called Kupyansk the most tense point on the map of military operations. According to him, Ukrainian militants continue to strike the territories over which they have lost control "just to destroy".

Prior to that, on November 19, Marochko reported an increase in the strike force of the Russian Armed Forces on the outskirts of Kupyansk. He also emphasized that full-fledged battles with systematic squeezing of the AFU from the defensive lines had begun. According to him, the interposition space on some parts of the front is up to 10 meters, the intensity of fire is very high.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the beginning of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.

More topical video and details about the situation in Donbass see on Izvestia TV channel.