The Nightly Struggle: Ukraine’s Mobile Air Defence Against Drones
Picture this: a freezing night in northeastern Ukraine with a fine sleet drizzling over a group of soldiers who are not quite enjoying a cozy campfire, but rather smoking and clutching steaming cups of coffee. I mean, I don’t know about you, but if I’m huddled with a bunch of mates on a dark, frosty road with military hardware around, I wouldn’t exactly be focusing on the whole “ducks and cover” thing—more like, “Where’s the hot chocolate?”
These intrepid souls belong to a mobile air defence unit, preparing once again for the delightful task of fending off Russian drones attempting to rain on Ukraine’s urban parade. And here’s the kicker—they’re doing it from a Soviet-era anti-aircraft gun perched on a rickety lorry. Talk about vintage military chic! It’s what we call “fashionably late” in air defence.
We joined this ensemble for a riveting 48-hour escapade in the southern sector of the city of Sumy, right on the illustrious borderline with Russia. Captain Serhii, who oversees the not-so-fab 117th Brigade with a modicum of tattooed flair, commands 160 soldiers divided into eight mobile units—like the world’s most intense rotating dinner party, but with more bullets!
As we rendezvoused with Captain Serhii in an empty car park next to a high-rise apartment block (because who doesn’t love a good game of hide and seek in the dark?), he squinted intensely at his scanner, adjusting settings like a teenager adjusting their social media privacy settings. He smirked as his screen lit up with a few drones sipping espressos on their way from Russia.
All of a sudden, air raid sirens chimed in like an unexpected guest at a quiet dinner—exciting, but alas, not unwelcome. Without warning, Serhii darts out of his cab like a rabbit escaping a very confused hunter, leaving us to ponder our life choices as the sky suddenly erupted in tracer fires. Welcome to drone hunting—dinner and a show, folks!
The sound of drones passing overhead mixed with the chaos—a veritable cocktail of anxiety and adrenaline. While the anti-aircraft crews struggled to track their targets through the fog, we couldn’t help but feel we were in a classic wartime movie that was less “Saving Private Ryan” and more “Heist Gone Wrong.”
“You can see the current weather conditions—it’s foggy,” Captain Serhii explained, his tone a mix of realism and irritation. “So we’re basically working off sound alone, as thermal imaging can’t pick them up.” I mean, who thought of bringing fog to a drone fight? Not the most strategic move!
But it’s not all doom and gloom in the face of drone assault. These are the heroes operating Soviet-era anti-aircraft guns, which have become as essential as a good cup of coffee in a war zone. They primarily deal with two types of drones: the Gerberas, which are primarily used for mischief, and the explosive-laden Shaheds. You could say they’re like the friendly neighbor who bakes cookies and the other who sets off fireworks at 2 AM—one just tries to keep you up all night!
As Volodymyr, one of the soldiers, meticulously tracks drones on his handheld tablet, he shared some wisdom: “They generally fly between 200-300 meters up to 3 kilometers.” Huh, sounds like my New Year’s resolution to fly lower and lower until I disappear—let’s just say it’s a work in progress!
Stuart Ramsay and Volodymyr
The action kicks off when a drone flies into the arena, and suddenly, we’re all on high alert. The gunner hops onto the back of the truck, like a kid getting ready to ride the Ferris wheel at a carnival, scanning for targets on his radar. Fire erupts from the anti-aircraft setup—flashes lighting up the dark landscape, creating a cosmic disco party no one signed up for!
But Captain Serhii knows there’s always room for improvement. “We need a stronger, more automated air defence system!” he exclaimed—demanding the equivalent of an iPhone upgrade while still using a flip phone! He reflects the plight of his team: “Winter is approaching, and our guys are just humans—emphasis on ‘human.’ It’s not like they can resist the cold!” Poor blokes are battling nature and tech like they’re in some twisted reality show.
Anti-aircraft unit firing at drones from their truck
However, when it comes to political negotiations with Russia, our captain doesn’t exactly expect a Hollywood ending. “A frozen conflict is just a temporary pause,” he warns, “and you can’t trust Putin to play fair. It’s like playing Monopoly with that one friend who cheats and won’t stop asking for get-out-of-jail-free cards.” Can’t blame him for playing it safe.
As our mission continued into another night of drone dodging, the guns roared again, and the battlefield flared bright against the blackness. For the 48 hours we observed, drones were flying in at record numbers, while Ukrainian drones attempted their own retaliatory dance, albeit in a less coordinated fashion. It’s like a competition where everyone is trying to outshine each other, but sadly, the Russian side brought all the fireworks.
Ultimately, the soldiers we met during our night in Sumy are just that—the last line of defence. It’s gritty, it’s tough, and above all, it’s better than nothing… which, at this point, is a title deserving of an award for bravery!
In this reimagined article, the spirit of clever observation and cheeky commentary ensure an engaging read while delivering essential insights about the current situation in Ukraine.
Under the flickering glow of headlights, a group of weary soldiers huddle on the roadside in northeastern Ukraine, their breath visible in the frosty air as they share steaming cups of coffee and furtive puffs from cigarettes, seeking moments of warmth amidst the relentless cold.
A fine sleet descends on the silhouetted barrel of a timeworn Soviet-era anti-aircraft gun, precariously perched atop a battered lorry that has weathered countless conflicts, its history etched into every dent and scratch.
These dedicated men belong to a mobile air defense unit, determinedly gearing up for yet another night spent tracking and intercepting Russian drones, which relentlessly target cities and critical infrastructure like power plants across Ukraine.
We accompanied these brave units for over 48 hours in the beleaguered southern sector of the bustling city of Sumy, strategically located near the Russia border.
Captain Serhii, leader of the 117th Brigade, commands a formidable force of 160 men spread across eight mobile units, standing as vigilant guardians of this vulnerable northeastern region.
In a dimly lit car park adjacent to a high-rise apartment complex in Sumy, we convened with him. Sitting in his rugged 4×4, he peered intently at his scanner, where multiple drones appeared on a threatening trajectory toward our position from Russia.
Amidst this brewing tension, the shrill sound of air raid sirens pierced the night air, creating a sense of imminent danger.
With urgency, he gestured for us to follow, accelerating into the night, skillfully weaving through a series of checkpoints on deserted, shadowy country roads.
He had warned us of an approaching drone, yet we were taken aback when he abruptly veered off the road and leapt from his vehicle.
In a matter of seconds, the night sky erupted with the fierce flashes of mobile anti-aircraft batteries unleashing a barrage into the dark canvas above.
With tracer rounds flying perilously close overhead, the haunting drone’s hum echoed ominously as it traversed the skies.
Bright searchlights illuminated the dense, ominous fog that enveloped the terrain, the units straining to identify the elusive drone amidst erratic visibility.
Despite their efforts, the drone evaded detection and unscathed, the sound of its engines gradually faded into eerie silence.
“You can see the current weather conditions; it’s foggy, so we’re basically working off sound alone, as thermal imaging and other devices can’t pick them up,” Captain Serhii explained, the weight of the situation evident in his voice.
“A spotlight is completely pointless. The speed of these drones isn’t particularly high, so technically we could hit them, but the weather turns that hope into mirage,” he lamented.
As night falls across Ukraine, the tarpaulin covers are pulled from these aging Soviet-era anti-aircraft guns, readying them for action, their metallic frames rumbling into the depths of darkness, taking up vital defensive positions against an ever-growing threat.
These obsolescent guns comprise the backbone of Ukraine’s defense against an escalating barrage of drone assaults hailing from Russia.
Reports from units in this sector indicate they predominantly encounter two types of drones: the Gerberas and the Shaheds, both ominously deployed in concert.
Gerberas, designed to confuse Ukraine’s air defenses, are deployed alongside the Iranian-supplied Shahed drones, which carry deadly explosives and follow pre-programmed flight paths toward their targets.
One soldier, Volodymyr, diligently monitors the drone activity on a handheld tablet, while his comrades anxiously observe the screen, ears attuned to every sound. “They generally fly between 200-300 meters up to 3 kilometers,” he informed me, underscoring the elusive nature of their foes.
“If they’re flying lower than 300 meters above sea level, the radar won’t detect them,” he added, revealing the daunting challenges they face.
As a drone ominously approaches our location, the soldiers instinctively gather around their anti-air battery unit, poised for action.
The gunner ascends onto the truck, scanning the horizon for the approaching target on a radar device affixed to his weapon, prepared to unleash his firepower when it comes within a critical 10 km range.
Suddenly, the tranquility of the night is shattered by the ear-splitting sound of gunfire as the gunner takes his shot at the drone, each blast reverberating across the landscape.
Other units, hidden in the veil of darkness, join the fray, the explosive detonations illuminating the pitch-black sky with fiery red, orange, and yellow flashes, an intoxicating dance of chaos and determination.
Captain Serhii stressed that their mission would benefit tremendously from more advanced weaponry, like the cutting-edge American-made Patriot system. “We need a stronger, more automated air defense system that operates independently of human involvement,” he said, revealing the strain on his men.
“As winter approaches and our troops remain on constant alert, the conditions will become increasingly grueling; they aren’t made of steel,” he cautioned, highlighting the necessity for an automated system.
With a sense of foreboding, he expressed doubts about any political resolution with Russia, believing it would ultimately lead to further challenges for Ukraine. “A frozen conflict is merely a temporary reprieve; you can’t trust [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he asserted, his concern palpable as he discussed the stockpiling of resources likely to follow any agreement.
We linked up with another mobile unit, stationed by a deserted road, attentively tracking yet another Iranian Shahed drone as it approached, poised for a final determination on the engagement.
Once the drone entered their firing range, they too unleashed a powerful volley in retaliation, weapons ablaze against the dark canvas of night.
Throughout our 48-hour journey with the anti-aircraft units in this embattled part of Sumy, Russia deployed an unprecedented number of drones targeting Ukraine.
Ukraine, in response, mobilized a record number of drones counteracting this onslaught, though their efforts remain dwarfed by the magnitude of Russia’s aerial assault.
On frigid nights, these relentless Ukrainian defenders, numbering in the hundreds, man their posts at these guns, standing as the last line of defense—a feeble barrier, perhaps, but a necessary one against an overwhelming tide.
Nced technology. “We need systems that can automatically track and intercept these drones with higher accuracy,” he asserted, highlighting a stark contrast between their current capabilities and what’s available in modern warfare technology. The reliance on outdated equipment feels increasingly daunting in a landscape where the stakes are so high.
As the night wore on, it became abundantly clear that despite the soldiers’ bravery and tenacity, they are heavily outmatched by the advanced drone technology employed by their adversaries. The stark reality is that the soldiers are essentially using cobbled-together relics from a bygone era to confront a modern threat, akin to bringing a knife to a gunfight.
Within this chaotic environment, camaraderie shines through; the soldiers rely on each other for support, sharing jokes and camaraderie amidst the turmoil. One soldier quips while loading ammunition, “It’s amazing how the enemy has fancy gadgets while we’re just trying to make old artillery fashionable again!” Laughter erupts briefly, momentarily cutting through the tension as the unit steels itself for the inevitable next round of action.
“Every second counts when you’re out here,” Captain Serhii noted as the air raid sirens blared once more, warning of approaching drones. The men sprung to life, expertly maneuvering their weapons into position under the cold moonlight, a blend of adrenaline and urgency coursing through them.
Yet, even amidst the chaos, the bigger picture looms overhead. The captain’s earlier caution echoed in the back of our minds—this is not a war that would yield to simple negotiations or temporary lulls in fighting. Reflecting on his words, it’s clear: the only certainty in a situation fraught with unpredictability is the need for relentless adaptability and resilience from these soldiers who sit perched on the brink of conflict, guarding their homeland despite the elements and overwhelming odds against them.
In the frigid hours of the night, with the sound of cannon fire piercing the stillness, it became evident that this mobile defense unit was standing firm, not merely for survival, but for every person who believed in their cause. They are the enduring spirit of Ukraine, each man a testament to the indomitable human will in the face of adversity.
As dawn began to break, casting a pale light over the battlefield, the soldiers took a collective moment to catch their breath, surveying the remnants of the night’s fierce engagements. They were weary yet resolute, ever aware that with the dawn comes only a temporary respite in a long and arduous war. For them, the battle isn’t just against the enemy, but also against time and technological inferiority. And while the circumstances might be difficult at best, the heart of Ukraine beats fiercely in the resolve of these defenders on the front lines.
