Why can’t the war be won with drones alone, and what role do assault units play in modern warfare? How…
“‘Vampires’ aren’t some agro-drones — they’re UAVs born to deal death to the enemy”, says the company’s chief sergeant of heavy unmanned bombers, “Raf”.
With a drone like this, you can strike concentrations of Russians, send an occupier “into space”, or lay mines. It also performs logistical tasks at the frontline. Versatility, accuracy, stability — all describe these heavy bombers.
Today, ArmyInform introduces readers to the inner workings of the “Specialists”, a unit of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Bukovinian Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.
The unit operates various drones: “Vampire”, “Bat” (“Kazhan”), and Heavy Shot. Contrary to what’s widely believed, not all of these were originally developed as agro-drones. “Kazhan” and “Heavy Shot” were — but “Vampire” are absolutely not agro-drones — they’re designed solely to bring death to enemies, asserts “Raf”, dubbed the “principal technical brain of the Specialists”.
He explains that “Vampire” can carry 12 kilograms over 12 kilometers, while a base-model “Kazhan” flies up to 8 km carrying 12 kg.
— But ours flies slightly farther and carries a bit more (he smiles). Heavy Shot is one of the most powerful — it carries 15 kg very far as well. As for communications, Nemesis is probably the best, but we couldn’t use it as we were on the Kursk direction most of the time.
Properly equipping the drone repair and storage area is crucial. Their setup includes soldering irons, a drilling machine, and even air conditioning.
Their tasks range widely: mine laying, logistics, payload drops. The number of sorties per day depends on the season — about 10 in winter and 10–15 in summer “under cover of darkness”.
We met “Physicist”, the heavy bomber pilot, as he prepared for a combat mission. At 24, he’s a volunteer who joined the military in 2022.
This time, he’s flying the “Kazhan”. The drone travels faster than 20 m/s. He notes that targeting precision is influenced by wind and altitude.
After dropping the munition, he comments succinctly: “A few ‘chips’. Target engaged. Returning”.
— Before, Russians used to emerge from shelters — but now, when a Ukrainian drone flies over, they don’t risk it. Previously they wouldn’t return. Often they hope we won’t hit them. And even when they realize we’re watching and controlling them with our Mavic, they try to hide under a tree. And even though we know which tree, they just sit and wait.
When asked whether enemy FPV drones hunt Ukrainian heavy bombers, “Physicist” states that the enemy attempts to target them from the flanks using small arms, but has also started using FPVs.
The serviceman emphasizes: It’s good they don’t have such drones; it would be much harder for the Defense Forces.
— There’s no remorse when you eliminate the enemy. I understand he’ll kill me if I don’t kill him — that’s logical. I’m from de-occupied territories. My home was under occupation. So I have a personal incentive to do this work, — emphasizes “Physicist”.
He shares that the heaviest payload his drone carried weighed 13 kg.
Their largest target grouping was on the Zaporizhzhia direction.
— We saw 11 ‘roosters’ (Russians) in frame and engaged them diagonally; five escaped across the field. What happened to the others — I don’t know, I wasn’t briefed. But everyone liked our execution…
“Physicist” primarily engages enemy personnel.
— We don’t classify ourselves as anti-vehicle specialists, because our FPVs handle that superbly. Yes, there were vehicles — we strafed a moto-tractor with infantry, we burned IFV; we worked on a tank, but later found out it had already been hit.
— We mostly focused on personnel and carried out our specific tasks: logistics, mine laying, etc. We had two self-propelled guns on the Kursk axis — one caught fire, the other was destroyed. One of them was given away in the forest by a ‘rooster’ who simply climbed out of the hatch and ran. If he hadn’t climbed out, the operator wouldn’t have spotted it — it was well camouflaged under the tree canopy, — he recalls.
When asked if any target went “into space”, “Physicist” confirms and describes: “There was one destroyed house — no roof or windows, bare walls. We got it as a targeting reference, though there was no one inside. We dropped a TM munition — it sent someone flying out of there straight through the wall… Another flew up over 50 meters from our minefield”.
He praises the heavy bomber’s multitasking, precision, and stability.
Unlike FPV drones where you don’t see the explosion, with heavy bombers they return after dropping fragmentation munitions and confirm — they clearly see the results.
In closing, “Physicist” addresses those who haven’t yet joined the Defense Forces:
— No one will solve your problems for you (which are actually our common problems). Sitting and waiting is simply not an option. We must all rise across Ukraine and push back. There are means, there are experienced people — who will teach you even if you think you know nothing. Good brigades will equip you, provide basic skills, send you to additional courses. The main thing is the will — to change something for this country, for its people, and first and foremost — for yourself. And don’t lie to yourself that it’s not your problem and that it will pass you by… No, it won’t.
