Inside the institution where Ukraine is racing to deal with Russia's developing drones.

Inside the institution where Ukraine is racing to deal with Russia's developing drones.

In a government office, drone and electronic warfare researchers gather around a small metal device recovered from a Gran Rossi drone. Its purpose is to measure the Earth's magnetic field for navigation purposes.

The researchers work at an institution under the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and their work is rarely seen by outsiders. Here, experts take apart Russian weapons recovered from the battlefield or attacks to identify vulnerabilities, help develop countermeasures, and anticipate what Russian engineers might try next.

The Kyiv Independent was granted rare access on the condition that neither the institution nor the people inside it be identified.

Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images