Inside the elite Ukrainian combat unit revolutionizing modern drone warfare

KYIV, Ukraine — An elite Ukrainian combat unit is defining the future of warfare by battle-testing new drone technology in real-time — which will provide invaluable insight and opportunity for the US, according to the unit’s commander.

As the more than three-year war turns to the skies, The Post visited a Ukrainian assault unit, which falls under the elite 3rd Assault Brigade, pioneering land and air drones to use in battle.

From ground units that lay mines and fire assault rifles to flying drones that drop grenades, Ukrainian Armed Forces are constantly deploying new technologies — and making regular tweaks to perfect them — on the battlefield.

“This brigade systematically uses assault drones in its operations,” a UAF drone unit commander who goes by the callsign “Makar” told The Post. “They close the distance between Russian and Ukrainian troops because they can go farther than is safe for troops.”

All of the drones used by Makar’s unit are designed and produced in Ukraine, where developers have instant access to troop feedback on how to perfect their products.

“These are the most modern weapons because we’re doing it in close collaboration with the developers,” Makar said.

“Today, if we are doing some mission and a problem arises, we can send a note to them and they can start rebuilding instantly to address the problem.”

It is a prime example of Albert Einstein’s classic adage, “necessity is the mother of invention,” Makar said.

The country also had to shift away from foreign weapons as a result of the pipeline of Western military aid drying up.

Kyiv is now making roughly 40% of its own weapons, with a goal to boost that to 50% by next year.

As a result, Ukraine has outpaced American drone production and know-how — but they are eager to share their knowledge with the US.

“The main thing is that developers abroad have no way to get their systems battle experience on their own shores,” Makar said.

“They can have a great idea, but they won’t know it won’t work in modern warfare until they come here,” he continued.

“If they come to Ukraine, they can have close contact directly with troops, so changes can be made overnight instead of wasting time.”

Makar said his unit is open to partnerships with weapons producers of all nations, calling it a win-win situation.

Ukraine could use new technologies in its fight and defense companies could receive regular feedback to improve their weapons, which can then be certified as “battle-tested.”

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It comes as the Pentagon has begun stepping its foot into the world of drone warfare.

On Tuesday, the US Army posted to X that it had just conducted its first test of a drone that drops grenades.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, these same tactics and technologies are used hundreds of times per day.

“We want to share,” said another Ukrainian soldier known as “Acrobat.”

“Because even if our country is killed, Russia will not stop. It will take these tactics and battlefield knowledge with them as they invade other countries.”

Oleksandr Biletskyi, vice president of Ukraine’s League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, said Ukraine’s drone developments are also key examples of the country’s advanced engineering — which has long been native to this region.

“The tank industries, the rocket industry of the Soviet Union, were always done by Ukrainians,” he said.

Now, with the conflict becoming the first example of modern warfare, the Ukrainian defense industry is further revolutionizing defense engineering by working hand-in-hand with frontline troops.