In dialogue with the Ukrainian front: why continuous engagement shapes better systems

Ongoing discussions with Ukrainian operators codenamed Kharon and Lumi highlight the importance of continuous engagement with the frontlines. Their experiences show how battlefield conditions change month by month and why development cycles must adapt accordingly.

2022: Observation and improvisation

In early 2022, drones primarily functioned as observation and fire guidance tools. FPV drones were mostly rumours.

In late 2022, even in Bakhmut, drones were almost entirely used for fire correction or basic reconnaissance. FPVs were just stories, something you heard about, not something you feared. We still worried more about traditional indirect fire. SAYS Kharon.

He also remembered a moment that demonstrates the pressure of the new environment.

– One drone landed in our doorway. We did not react. If we moved, we would have exposed our position. That was the kind of decision-making drones forced on us even back then, he adds.

2023: FPVs everywhere

By late 2023, training infrastructure had developed, FPV drones had become crucial for disabling armour, and maritime drones had transformed the Black Sea.

In 2023, the infrastructure finally became operational. FPVs appeared everywhere. They transformed the way we moved, trained, and fought, says Lumi.

2024: Formalisation and Scaling

In 2024, Ukraine formalised drone warfare on an unprecedented scale. Drone battalions were deployed across brigades, interceptor operations expanded, and fibre optic drones appeared during major operations such as Kursk. Monthly development cycles became the norm.

2025: The advanced unmanned force

By 2025, Ukraine’s unmanned forces are expected to operate as one of the most advanced combat systems in the world. They constitute a small proportion of personnel but cause a disproportionate share of enemy losses. A fifteen to twenty-kilometre kill zone has emerged where mechanised movement is nearly impossible. Russia has responded by establishing its own unmanned division.

Why continuous dialogue matters

In such a rapidly changing environment, frontline operators offer vital insights into integration requirements, electronic warfare challenges, and the risks posed by unreliable systems. Technologies that do not align with frontline realities are simply not utilised.

The editorial team has confirmed the identities of the interviewed individuals. Their names have been changed to protect their safety. These articles are based on discussions with several operators represented here by Kharon and Lumi.