Ukrainian drone operators face psychological toll in Zaporizhzhia

Ukrainian reconnaissance crews from the 82nd Air Assault Brigade are maintaining hidden operational posts in abandoned homes along the Zaporizhzhia front line. To prevent detection from Russian electronic warfare and aerial surveillance, soldiers conceal vital equipment, including satellite communications antennas, within garden foliage.

These teams provide critical intelligence, tracking enemy movements and directing artillery strikes. However, prolonged combat duties, constant artillery threats, and the unique psychological burden of conducting lethal warfare via screens are taking a significant toll on operators. Servicemen report intense mental strain caused by round-the-clock monitoring and the direct visual feedback of remote targeting during extended deployments.

Sources: Die Presse