I flew drones on Ukraine's fiercest battlefield. The last few months laid bare the limits of today's drone warfare.

"Before the full-scale war, I was a software engineer, working for companies in San Francisco, New Zealand, and Germany. Today, I lead a team of five to six Ukrainian drone operators. Our task is to use high-flying drones to provide reconnaissance data to our troops and commanders. With our intelligence, artillery such as HIMARS and drone strike teams can target Russian equipment and soldiers, often before they can even reach the front lines."

"When we first arrived, the weather was sunny and ideal for flying. But the end of October was a disaster for us. Ukraine turns foggy in the autumn, with thick and low clouds that can stack from 100 meters to 300 meters above the ground. These are so thick that no infrared camera or thermal camera can see through them, and caused many days to be completely no-go for flying for our types of drones."

"At the time, the Russians took advantage of the clouds, using them to cover their advance on foot and in vehicles. Given the weather, the number of personnel they sacrificed to take the city, and our limited resources, there was eventually no viable way for us to defend Pokrovsk forever. Ukraine is dependent on drone warfare. It has carried us through the terrible and scary times of these Russian assaults, and it has changed the face of war."

A former software engineer leads a team of five to six Ukrainian drone operators who use high-flying drones to provide reconnaissance data to troops and commanders. That intelligence enables artillery such as HIMARS and drone strike teams to target Russian equipment and soldiers before they reach the front lines. The team redeployed to Pokrovsk in August 2025 because fighting intensified. Operators conduct dayslong rotations in houses and underground bunkers because they are priority targets. Thick autumn fog with low clouds 100–300 meters high often renders infrared and thermal sensors ineffective, grounding drones and allowing Russian advances to exploit cover. Limited resources and heavy Russian losses made defending Pokrovsk unsustainable. Ukraine remains dependent on drone warfare, which has transformed the battlefield and reduced visible tank presence.

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