On January 24, as snowflakes drifted down in a forested area, the long-range attack drones revved up one by one, speeding down a dark, deserted road before soaring into the night sky with a whirring sound.
These unmanned aircrafts armed with explosive warheads are part of a Ukrainian initiative involving long-range drone attacks intended to target Russia's infrastructure well beyond the front lines, as Russian forces advance in the east.
"Our primary objective is to strike logistics centers, ammunition depots, and alleviate the pressure on the front lines," revealed the Ukrainian drone unit's battalion commander, who is known by the call sign Casper.
While Kyiv's military permitted exclusive coverage to Reuters during the drone launch, the precise location and date of the strike were not disclosed due to security concerns.
Ukraine has strategically hoarded much of its technological advancements viewing it as a significant approach to weaken Russia's extensive military complex, even though it lacks the extensive arsenal of long-range missiles that Russia possesses.
Moscow currently conducts nightly long-range drone attacks, prompting Kyiv to escalate its own drone strikes recently, encouraged by the U.S. to cease the nearly three-year full-scale conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The possibility of potential peace negotiations propels both conflicting parties to enhance their positions in the battleground to secure a stronger stance.
Following a Ukrainian overnight attack involving more than 121 drones targeting 13 regions, Russia's defense ministry reported repelling the assault. Among the targets hit were a Russian oil refinery and a microchip factory in the Bryansk region, with online footage capturing a massive cloud of smoke and flames engulfing an oil refinery in Russia's Ryazan region.
Ukraine's 14th Unmanned Aerial Systems Regiment, led by Casper, consists of a few hundred personnel, including analysts and engineers, dedicated to conducting long-range strikes.
Fidel, one of the unit's founders, stated that some of their drones have reached distances of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) during combat operations. They have executed numerous strikes, including one on the Russian airbase at Engels situated approximately 730 km (450 miles) southeast of Moscow, which houses strategic bombers.
Despite their crucial role in the conflict, Fidel conceded that "unmanned systems alone cannot alter the course of the war," emphasizing the necessity of infantry, artillery, aviation, and other resources.
Casper mentioned that they were utilizing the domestically manufactured "Lyuty" drone for the strikes, stating that the overall effectiveness of their weaponry stands at 40%-50%.
Reuters was unable to independently corroborate this assessment.