Polsat TV, in partnership with the Eastern Flank Institute, has produced a report on Ukrainian anti-drone defence.
Marek Sygacz, a special correspondent for Polsat News, travelled to Ukraine to observe the work of the ‘Shahed hunters’ – mobile fire groups that serve as the first line of defence against Russian unmanned aerial vehicles. He also visited a drone factory, where he spoke with Ihor Krynychka, chairman of the supervisory board of Skyassist Research and Production Company LLC. The report on modern drone warfare is the result of cooperation between Polsat News and the Eastern Flank Institute, the project’s content partner.
In recent years, the way war is waged has changed, shifting from traditional conflicts to drone warfare. According to Volodymyr ‘Roland,’ deputy commander of the drone battalion, there is no longer a need for armoured offensives, as they are too slow and vulnerable to drone attacks. ‘The winner will be the one who is more creative, mobile and clever, while also having a large amount of cheaply produced weapons at their disposal.’ ‘Roland’ also noted that NATO is not yet aware of this, and Western armies, often equipped with the best equipment and well-trained infantry, are unable to compete effectively with a technological army.
Ihor Krynychko from Skyassist expressed a similar opinion, emphasising that Ukrainians are gaining experience on the front line and are able to quickly implement changes if necessary, while NATO soldiers only have exercises at their disposal. Krynychko, like ‘Roland’ and the soldiers of the 104th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, points to the key role of unmanned systems, stating bluntly that ‘It is drones and machines that should fight and die first, not people. Only in this way do we have a chance to oppose the Russians.’
We invite you to familiarise yourself with the Polsat News materials, produced in partnership with the IWF (in Polish):
