Ukraine Drone Commander: 102,000 Russians Killed or Wounded in One Year

Robert "Madiar" Brovdi, a former grain trader and art collector, now commands Ukraine’s drone branch. He claims his units killed or wounded 102,000 Russian soldiers in the past 12 months. That accounts for one in every three Russian casualties on the battlefield, he said. Brovdi’s journey into drone warfare began modestly. He started by taping a grenade to a commercial drone used to film weddings. That simple innovation evolved into a full-scale military operation. His branch now operates thousands of drones daily. They target troops, vehicles, and supply lines. Brovdi says the drones are cheap to produce but highly effective. The commander did not provide independent verification for his numbers. However, his claim highlights the growing role of drones in modern conflict. Ukraine has rapidly expanded its drone capabilities since the war began.