As Russian forces ramped up their advances in eastern Ukraine, they were aided by a new tool — the drone that flies using fiber optic cables.
"The use of fiber optic FPV drones definitely creates new challenges on the battlefield," says a border guard in the Pomsta Brigade, who goes by the nickname Phoenix.
Radio Free Europe agreed to identify him and the other soldiers by their insignia or nicknames, as stipulated by the Ukrainian military's regulations.
Unlike standard FPV drones, which are piloted through a video streamed to the pilot's headset, mobile devices or other screens, fiber optic cables enable drones to operate without radio signals.
This makes them less vulnerable to electronic jamming, as they remain directly connected to their operators via fiber optic cables.
Ukraine's forces are facing arms shortages from the West, and Russia has the advantage in terms of the number of soldiers on its side.
In this situation, modified drones undoubtedly represent a change in tactics on the battlefield.
Both Kiev and Moscow have stepped up fighting before US President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to end the war quickly, takes office on January 20.
The new drones have reportedly been in use since the summer, but Ukrainian soldiers stationed around the country tell RFE/RL that they are becoming a key element of Moscow's battlefield strategy.
Many say that, in addition to being used for reconnaissance, they are also used by Russian troops as self-destruct drones, as they strike Ukrainian positions and vehicles.
"This is a very dangerous weapon. It's like a brick with a propeller flying at you and there's very little you can do to stop it," says Varani, an officer in the 148th Artillery Brigade.
Faced with changing tactics, soldiers say they have been forced to adapt quickly, but the results have been mixed.
Kostyantyni, a battalion commander of the Bureviy Brigade of the National Guard, says that the ineffectiveness of the electronic jamming of the new drones allows them to fly or reach targets more accurately, compared to traditional FPV drones.
“They enable them [Russian forces] to see our positions better, strike more accurately and fly longer distances. This makes the situation a little more complicated," he says.
And, these complications caused Kyrylo Budanov, head of the main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, to describe the new drones as "a big problem for us".
On January 8, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that Russia is increasingly deploying fiber-optic drones - as part of its current offensive - and said the drones have already carried out a series of new strikes along front lines.
Shvayka, a drone pilot and platoon commander in eastern Ukraine, says long fiber-optic cables make drones harder to detect.
"It's just a small box where the fiber optic cable is placed, and it's very easy to lose because it's the size of a pack of cigarettes," he says.
Another advantage of these drones is that they are less likely to lose their signal than standard FPV drones and can track targets more easily.
Medoidi, a Ukrainian border guard, says the biggest lesson he learned from dealing with these drones is the need to take extra precautions and better camouflage potential targets and personnel.
Fiber optic drones are not without their flaws, he said.
He says that they have problems in terrains and spaces that are not open and that he has seen such drones caught in tree branches several times.
Drones are also limited in the distances they can cover and where they can strike.
Given these obstacles, soldiers say the easiest way to combat drones is with small arms fire.
Others say they have deployed large nets - even fishing nets - to deter them.
Russia is reportedly ramping up production of fiber-optic drones, while Ukraine is also trying to develop its own versions. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine exhibited a model earlier this month.
"At the moment, we are still in the testing phase," says Lyutiy./REL (A2 Televizion)
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