An officer of the No. 3 Ukrainian Army Corps nicknamed Artem said that the number of casualties in the UAV pilots this year has increased significantly compared to previous years of conflict.
According to Artem, in the past, it was very rare for UAV pilots to be targeted, but now this situation has become much more common. The more experienced people are, the easier it is to be put on the list of top priority targets.
The officer said that Russia often fights fiercely with many types of weapons, even using expensive missiles to attack areas suspected of having UAV pilots, even if there could only be 1 or 2 people there.
An unnamed Ukrainian UAV pilot added, "When the Russian military discovers a UAV driver somewhere, they will use everything in hand, all kinds of weapons to destroy him."
Meanwhile, another UAV driver asserted that they were targets number one because they were capable of disrupting the enemys mission.
Justin Bronk, senior research fellow on air power and technology at the Royal Institute for Royal Services Research (RUSI), said in a report that the number of casualties of Ukrainian UAV pilots has increased very rapidly in the spring and summer of this year, but did not specify the number.
To reduce pressure from the strong fire from Russia, Ukrainian soldiers are working to build more solid sanctuaries, work deeper underground, change positions regularly and set up fake posts to deceive the enemy.
Observers say Russia's increasing determination to destroy UAV pilots - a force considered a factor to increase its strength - shows the great impact of this weapon on the battlefield.
UAVs, especially those carrying small explosive volumes, have become the main weapons of choice in the conflict in Ukraine, causing about 70% of casualties on both sides, according to recent assessments.
These explosives-powered UAVs have been effective, as four fanbikes costing just a few hundred USD can also destroy million-dollar tanks. As a result, a series of UAVs contributed greatly to the destruction of a significant number of tanks and armored vehicles.
Not only that, UAVs are not only used for attack, but also play the role of aerial reconnaissance and support targeting, helping to regulate artillery firepower in combat.
