Thousands of Ukraine Civilians Join Drone War Units Via App

Drone units are considered the most exciting - and least dangerous - in the Ukrainian military. 

To tap both the enthusiasm of younger potential recruits - and enhance the demonstrated effectiveness of drone warfare which has successfully stymied the larger and better equipped Russians - Ukraine has created an app through those interested can connect with and sign up for drone warfare units of their choice. This reduces time and bureaucratic hassle, thus advancing Ukraine's military goals by using digital technology. JL

Amira Barkhush reports in United24:

Over the past two months, more than 2,200 Ukrainians have applied via the Diia app to join drone warfare units. These units operate under the Drone Line initiative, which brings together infantry and UAVs into a single strike force, The service is available to candidates not currently serving in the military. Roles include FPV operators, Mavic/Autel drone pilots, UAV technicians, munition handlers, ground robotic system operators, drone assembly specialists. The applicant can select a specialty, fill out a short application, and join the desired unit. 

Over the past two months, more than 2,200 Ukrainians have applied via the Diia app to join drone warfare units such as K-2, Achilles, Rarog, Phoenix, and Magyar’s Birds. This was reported on Diia’s website on May 12.

 

These units operate under the Drone Line initiative, a program launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that brings together infantry and UAVs into a single strike force, scaling up Ukraine’s most effective battlefield innovations. To streamline recruitment, a dedicated service was integrated directly into the Diia app.

According to Diia, the service is designed for civilians who want to join the fight using cutting-edge technology, without excessive bureaucracy.

 

The initiative brings together FPV drone pilots, copter operators, bomber crews, fixed-wing specialists, IT experts, engineers, and cryptographers.

The service is available to candidates not currently serving in the military. The applicant can simply select a specialty, fill out a short application, and join the desired unit.

Available roles include FPV operators, Mavic/Autel drone pilots, UAV technicians, munition handlers, ground robotic system operators, drone assembly specialists, and more.

At the end of April, Ukraine’s defense initiative Brave1, launched the country’s first large-scale military technology marketplace, aiming to centralize access to advanced products for soldiers and accelerate the adoption of critical battlefield innovations.