As Russia Adapts to Ukraine's Middle Strikes, Elite Drone Units Stay Ahead of the Curve

Over the spring and summer, Ukraine's elite UAV units expanded their "Middle Strike" campaign, with the 422nd Unmanned Systems Battalion operating over the vast open steppes of the southern front line.

Using Zuzulia heavy drones alongside $5,000 US-built Hornets, the unit captured Russian logistics routes en masse. The battalion, operating deep behind the Zero Line, established effective fire control up to 50 kilometers behind the front line, halting major traffic and making supply to the front line much more difficult.

Photo: Francis Farrell / The Kyiv Independent.