Suspected drone crashes in Romania near Ukrainian border, sparking fire

I am a top drone pilot in the Ukrainian Army, and this is what it is really like. I joined the army on the day of the Russian invasion. After studying computer science, I landed an internship at a game company. However, upon witnessing the news, I chose to join the fight instead of waiting for the Russians to kill me. Comparing the early days of the war to now, it feels like two different worlds.

Back then, artillery caused most of the damage, but now, drones are omnipresent, from the front line all the way back 30 kilometers. The constant threat of drone strikes is terrifying, as danger is always looming over everyone, regardless of their location.

The conditions on the front line are harsh, with pilots spending 90 percent of their time underground in bunkers due to the risk of enemy drones. The work is non-stop and highly draining, but even in Kyiv, the risk of drone strikes cannot be escaped. As a drone pilot, my primary mission is to protect ground troops. Throughout the war, I have held various roles, including reconnaissance drone pilot, bomber drone pilot, and now, an anti-drone mission specialist in the Aquila regiment under the 3rd Army Corps.

Our focus is to shoot down enemy drones of all sizes, from small FPV drones to long-range kamikaze models.

I am proud to be a top performer, not just in my regiment but in the wider army, having taken out 932 enemy drones. Currently, I focus on finding and eliminating smaller FPV drones that pose a threat with explosives. Spotting these tiny drones is an art as much as a science, requiring understanding the enemy pilot's perspective and locating them among vast open spaces.

My team consists of drone assemblers, pilots, and navigators who direct us to targets and meticulously log our successes. We all have the skills to perform any role if someone is injured.

On a recent mission, we successfully hit 180 targets in 20 days. However, missions can also involve searching for targets, running low on battery, and returning, resulting in up to 30 flights per day. Most of the drones we fly and shoot down are commercially available models, which are cheap and widely accessible. Both the Ukrainian and Russian armies use the same Chinese models, making it a global conflict.

Despite the destruction of homes and cities, there remains potential for beauty and renewal. The war is horrific, but it is also a unique experience that changes one's perspective and makes every moment alive feel incredibly important.