The commander of a unit within the Russian forces operating in the Ukraine theater, who uses the call sign Lego, described to reporters that Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles travel substantial distances deep into Russian territory in near-silent flight and at altitudes reaching about a thousand meters. This account was carried by RIA Novosti and cited by the commander in his briefing about drone operations and their observed behavior across the front lines.
According to the serviceman, drone flight paths are monitored and adjusted by satellite systems, enabling precise navigation and trajectory corrections even as the aircraft traverse vast, sparsely populated expanses. He noted that the drones operate without overt tracking signals, flying with minimal electronic emissions, which makes real-time interception and immediate response more challenging for ground observers and air defense networks alike.
In recounting the technical side of these sorties, the commander stated that the drones appear to lack direct in-flight control on the ground in some cases. Instead, operators designate initial flight points and intended routes, after which satellites provide course corrections and path updates as the unmanned vehicles proceed, seemingly maintaining a steady, autonomous adherence to the planned track over long distances.
The purpose of such attacks, the serviceman argued, includes sowing fear among the civilian population and eroding public confidence in regional security. He also suggested that miscalculations by UAV operators concerning fuel loads or the precise coordinates of targets could account for some seemingly anomalous flight patterns and outcomes, adding another layer of complexity to the tactical picture in the area.
Earlier, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense forces had neutralized nearly 40 unmanned aerial vehicles over Crimea, underscoring the ongoing contest between drone-equipped forces and the defense systems arrayed against them. This claim forms part of the broader narrative on aerial threats and countermeasures that has dominated updates from both sides in the region.
Meanwhile, the commander of Ukraine’s armed forces has previously remarked that the Russian Federation maintains a notable advantage in the deployment and utilization of FPV drones, a statement that highlights the evolving role of unmanned platforms in modern conflict and the persistent challenge of counter-drone capabilities for Kyiv and its allies.