New technological solution has revolutionized the way Ukraine fights, putting into the hands of commanders on the ground exactly the equipment they need to face the Russians. The result is leaving Moscow in panic
Imagine an online store application where, instead of books or electronics, soldiers choose attack drones, reconnaissance systems or electronic warfare jammers with a simple click. And instead of receiving them at home, they are delivered directly to the front line, a few hundred meters from enemy positions, within a few days. It is not science fiction, nor is it an idea that is being studied. This is the reality that Ukraine has built on the battlefield and that is leaving Russian commanders panicking.
Unsurprisingly, the lack of soldiers on the front line has led Ukraine to aggressively invest in unmanned aerial systems. But this system ran into the inefficiency of the old purchasing processes, which meant that the drones did not arrive in sufficient quantities and, when they did arrive, they were not always the models requested by the men on the ground. Therefore, the Ministry of Digital Transformation created Brave1 Market, a platform dubbed “Amazon for the army”, which allows commanders on the ground to order directly from manufacturers the equipment they really need, adapted to the concrete threats they face every day.
Needs vary drastically from sector to sector on the front lines. A reconnaissance drone with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prevent jamming could save a unit in Donetsk; Elsewhere, a long-range kamikaze is the ideal tool for cutting through Russian logistics lines. Demand for these devices has continued to grow since the start of the invasion, and technical specifications change almost daily, based on the actual experience of soldiers on the ground.
This system works in close connection with the gamification framework created by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Last year, the armed forces implemented a system for assigning points to units. The objective is to reward the effectiveness of those who destroy the most targets or eliminate the most enemies, receiving more points that can be exchanged for better equipment on these platforms. Therefore, the most capable units always have the best possible material at their disposal.
In parallel, volunteers found an effective way to channel the many millions of euros raised every month. Now Ukrainian citizens can donate money directly to the units of their choice. It is common for different brigades to have highly professionalized communication structures, responsible for managing the unit’s image. Some have become real fundraising machines, which translates into superior equipment.
The Ukrainian military admits that this system is significantly superior for those on the ground. In the previous centralized model, the response was much slower. The platform, created by the then Minister of Digital Transformation, and current Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, allows soldiers to consult more than a hundred models with different characteristics and from different manufacturers.
The interface is user-friendly and organized by categories, just like a modern online shopping platform. Foot soldiers can review the specifications of each model and filter by category. However, only the unit commander can place the order, paying directly from the brigade’s account. This is the only part done by the military, the rest is handled by the platform.
The system directly forwards the order to the manufacturer, generates all necessary documentation and handles the shipping of the weapons to the front location where the unit is located. The entire process, from selection to manufacturing and delivery, takes between five and ten days. The process is considered an overnight leap by the Ukrainian military, who told the New York Times that in the days when contracts depended exclusively on huge contracts with the Ministry of Defense, equipment was supplied in insufficient quantity or inadequate quality.
As warfare evolves, the supply of drone models and types continues to grow. The missions become increasingly complex. There are drones specialized in observation and reconnaissance, generally larger, capable of monitoring vast areas from a distance and equipped with artificial intelligence to circumvent enemy electronic warfare measures.
Criticism of Russian authorities
The attack options are vast. Today, Ukrainian soldiers operate a vast and diverse fleet of drones. It’s no longer just small FPV drones equipped with explosives. Currently, these units can order larger kamikaze drones to attack troops or equipment in the rear, creating serious logistical difficulties for Russia. This has been one of the main problems felt by Russian forces. In recent weeks, several pro-Russian military bloggers have intensified their criticism of the authorities due to the effectiveness of these attacks.
“The enemy has once again captured the ‘small sky’ in the theater of operations, expanding the so-called ‘kill zone’ and hunting personnel, military vehicles and civilians at a depth of 40-50 kilometers from the front line. Plans are underway to extend this zone up to 100 kilometers within our borders, encompassing not only LPR and DPR [Repúblicas Populares de Lugansk e Donetsk]but also the depths of ‘mainland’ Russia, making the hunt for civilian vehicles near Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod a frightening reality rather than a novelty,” writes pro-Russian military blogger Voenkor Kitten, who has more than 300,000 followers.
These actions are allowing Ukraine to reconquer parts of the territory occupied by Russian forces over the last year. According to the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrski, Ukraine managed to recover 480 km of territory, including eight locations in the Dnipro region and four in Zaporizhzhia. And some Russian commanders are increasingly feeling the pinch from Ukraine’s push into drone technology.
Kiev claims that over the past four months, its drone units have neutralized more Russian soldiers than the Kremlin has managed to recruit. In March, losses inflicted on the enemy by Ukrainian drones grew by 29% compared to February, with an average of more than 11 thousand combat missions carried out per day. Ukrainian effectiveness extended to the Russian rear, with almost 350 attacks carried out at depths between 30 and 120 kilometers from the front line. According to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, 143 logistics depots, 52 command posts and 20 energy and oil facilities were hit in an effort to cripple Moscow’s war machine.
“The situation has changed in the field of unmanned systems. The enemy has acquired a new, improved model of drone, which flies higher than the previous ones. And, of course, they are doing everything in their power to cut off our logistical operations in the border regions and they are doing it successfully,” said Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov, one of the most faithful Chechen commanders.
There are also other models, such as bomber drones, drones with multiple propellers capable of carrying heavier loads or attack drones adapted to different weather conditions. However, the main Ukrainian weapon appears to be the high number of companies competing to offer the best product. There are dozens of companies offering hundreds of models on these platforms. Production capacity continues to increase: according to the Ukrainian government, it could reach ten million units per year.
Zakhar Prilepin, another pro-Russian military blogger, admits that the proportion of drone use is becoming increasingly lopsided in favor of Ukraine. In a post on his Telegram channel, he admits that Ukraine operates 60 drones for every 40 Russians and in many areas of the front the disparity reaches 70 drones for 30. “Ukraine already launches more drones on our territory than we launch on theirs”, he laments.
