High-flying snipers: how UAV operators of Vostok group smash the enemy
In the fall, the Russian army liberated more than 80 settlements in the DNR and LNR, Zaporizhzhya, Kursk and Kharkiv regions. Operators of combat drones played a significant role in these offensive operations. The Izvestiya correspondent visited the location of one of these units of the Vostok group of troops and observed how the fighters strike at the enemy. Their work has allowed our infantry to make serious progress - the servicemen of this group have liberated 13 settlements in the South Donetsk direction over the last three months.
How tanks are destroyed in the SSO zone
It is difficult to name the number of drones used to hit an AFU tank.
- One drone can be enough for one tank, for another one can spend up to nine drones. By the way, more is spent on Soviet-made tanks. We are trying to burn them completely. If we do not, it is likely to be evacuated and rebuilt. We do not give such an opportunity to the enemy, - told "Izvestia" UAV operator with the call sign Kuvalda.
He notes that his unit regularly receives new recruits.
- We try to put all new recruits into service quickly. Two weeks is enough to train them and make them an effective drone operator. Of course, a lot depends on the trainee. It is important how well he or she develops fine motor skills, attentiveness, and reaction speed. Of course, a person will not become an ace operator in a short period of time. Everything comes with experience," Kuvalda said.
Ratio of forces in the drone battle
Enemy drones are now in the sky 24 hours a day. And it is almost impossible to hide from them. This forces Russian fighters to constantly change tactics and strategy, Kuvalda said.
- We have a wide variety of targets: infantry, vehicles of all kinds, dugouts, strongholds, ammunition depots, in general, everything that poses a threat. And the balance of power in the drone confrontation is now on our side," the fighter emphasized.
According to him, the evolution of drones is very noticeable - every day something is improved and finalized in the aircraft.
- The enemy, of course, does not sleep and works on us, but we camouflage ourselves. We shoot down their Mavics with our Mavics. We don't let them hover over us and our positions, we work with REB," Kuvalda explained.
This unit mainly receives factory-built UAVs.
- Now we have enough of them, they come in large quantities. Their device is simple: four engines, propellers, housing, camera, control transmitters. On average, the cost of one device is from 50 thousand to 60 thousand rubles, - said the drone operator.
At the end of our conversation Kuvalda recalls that every six months he goes on vacation, in his native Buryatia.
- Sometimes I meet those who are in contemplation whether to go to the SVO or not," he says. - In my opinion, you should not come here without the desire to defend your country. If you don't understand what you are here for, you will work badly. Nobody wants that. We need motivated comrades. I am sure that we will succeed and victory will be ours! And I wish the enemy a drone in the back.
A sniper and a drone pilot are similar specialties.
The chief of the strike drone crew with the call sign Beard said that he had the desire to join the Army when mobilization began in the country.
- But then due to family circumstances it did not work out. As a result, in October last year he signed a contract, and was on special operations only in April of this year. From October to April I underwent special training. At the training center we trained on Maviks. We learned to conduct reconnaissance, to work with drops. Later I switched to FPV format," he recalls.
According to him, it was not easy for him to get used to flying such drones.
- Only constant training and practice can develop the necessary skills to work effectively with them. To be honest, I initially wanted to be a sniper. But it didn't work out. I became a drone operator. These two specialties, in my opinion, are similar in many ways: you sit in ambush, follow the enemy and destroy him, conduct reconnaissance, correct artillery," said Boroda.
He admitted that before signing the contract he had not served in the conscription service.
- But both my grandfathers fought in the war. Therefore, when mobilization was announced, there were no thoughts of avoiding it at all. I had only one desire - to defend my homeland," the commander emphasized, showing the drones with which his unit works.
- Here is a shaped-charge munition with additional destructive elements. Its detonation occurs at the moment of contact closure. That is, any small pressure can lead to detonation. These are the ones we use on vehicles. We use fragmentation rounds to hit infantry, thermobaric ones to hit strongholds. The latter have the principle of defeat - penetration into a closed room, removal of oxygen and burning, - explains the specialist.
He draws attention to the fact that they are constantly building interaction with other units.
- For them, we conduct reconnaissance, objective photography, accompany convoys, for example, we make adjustments to our artillery operating from closed firing positions," Boroda explained.
UAV operators are now working both day and night - in the dark, thermal imaging cameras and night vision cameras help them find and destroy the enemy.
