The Nighttime Dance of Defiance in Ukraine: Soldiers, Drones, and a Touch of Comedy
Picture this: a group of soldiers in northeastern Ukraine, huddled at the side of a road, puffing on cigarettes and sipping hot coffee. A fine sleet pelts down on a Soviet-era anti-aircraft gun perched unceremoniously on an aging lorry. Yes, this is the grim reality of warfare, where men take solace in caffeine and nicotine while preparing to fend off enemy drones. I suppose it’s either that or counting sheep, and let’s face it, they wouldn’t even be good at that. They’re too busy tracking and trying to knock out Russian drones aimed maliciously at cities and power plants. I mean, when the enemy’s drones are more reliable than your ex, you know you’re in a pickle.
We had the privilege (or perhaps the misfortune) of tagging along with a mobile air defense unit in Sumy, right near that troublesome border with Russia. Spoiler alert: no one won a gold medal in marksmanship that night!
Meet Captain Serhii: The Man, The Legend
Enter Captain Serhii of the 117th Brigade, ruler of 160 souls and, dare I say, the bravest of them all. I mean, he’s commanding eight mobile units to protect this particular stretch of Ukrainian land. Talk about multitasking! We met him in an eerily empty car park next to a high-rise apartment block — romantic setting, isn’t it? With air raid sirens blaring in the background, he squinted at his scanner like it was a cheap magic eye puzzle trying to reveal a picture of success.
Serhii zoomed off into the night (I half-expected him to pull some James Bond maneuvers), where he abruptly pulled off the road and jumped out of his cab. It’s a Wonder of Warfare — one moment it’s coffee and small talk, the next an all-out anti-aircraft rave lighting up the skies. And just like that, the peaceful night transformed into a $10,000 fireworks display — except, instead of “oohs” and “aahs,” we had bullets whizzing overhead and the faint thrum of an approaching drone. It was all very ‘who needs Netflix when you have high-stakes military operations?’
Fog, Frustration, and the Sounds of Silence
The fog that night was about as thick as the plot of a daytime soap opera, making our heroes rely primarily on sound to track the drone. Captain Serhii laments, “It’s so foggy, we’re basically flying blind.” So, apparently, we’d traded our high-tech thermal imaging for the ancient art of listening. I mean, who doesn’t love a good game of high-stakes Guess Who?
And just when you thought it couldn’t get more chaotic, Volodymyr, one of the soldiers, was tracking incoming drones on a tablet. Yes, like trying to find a Wi-Fi signal in a heavy metal concert, he was looking for drones flying between 200-300m—too low for their radar to pick them up. Brilliant! Nothing screams ‘life-or-death situation’ like needing an upgrade. I could almost hear the internal monologue: “I hope nobody asks for Wi-Fi!”
The Relentless Night Shifts
As the night dragged on, their makeshift operation blended into an almost surreal nightmare. A gunner took a seat atop the truck, ready to unleash that sweet, sweet noise of firing rounds when the drone got within 10 kilometers. The moment that happens, you better believe it’s mayhem! This is where nighttime tranquility goes to die—alongside smart civilian choices. Everything about this screamed relentless-ness, a stark reminder that these brave souls spend their nights in freezing temperatures with the same finesse as a dad trying to figure out the new TV remote.
Dear America, Help!
Captain Serhii’s plea for more sophisticated weaponry is perhaps the only thing more desperate than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He’s eyeing the American-made Patriot air defense system like a child looks at the last slice of pizza—covetously. “Winter is approaching!” he says, sounding like a dramatic forecaster. “Our guys are 24/7 and aren’t made of steel!” One can only imagine what the cafeteria menu looks like in these conditions. Hot soup? Check. Frozen dinners? Double check! And don’t even get them started on the lack of decor in the mess tent!
The Unending Drone Dance
Cue the phrase “frozen conflict”—Serhii isn’t optimistic about political negotiations. He suspects that a truce would merely stockpile “more rockets, soldiers, and potentially North Koreans.” Because why not add that spice to the mix? At this point, it feels like waiting for the plot twist in a suspense thriller; the tension is palpable.
The neck-snapping tension escalated as another Iranian Shahed drone glided ominously overhead. The team wasted no time launching another well-coordinated counter-offensive, and the sky erupted in bursts of color against the dark canvas. It’s like they were throwing a rave party — but only if you count machine gun fire as the DJ.
Conclusion: The Last Line of Defense
Through the blood, sweat, and sleepless nights, these Ukrainian defenders man their old junkyard-dwelling guns, the last line of defense. The situation isn’t ideal, but let’s be real—their tenacity is more operational than just good luck! Each night is a battle, and while they may not be winning every encounter, they make it count one shot at a time. So, here’s to those holding the line and reminding us all that sometimes, life is about showing up for work—even when you’d rather stay in your cozy bed.
Headlights slice through the freezing darkness, revealing a small group of weary soldiers huddled together on the roadside in northeastern Ukraine. They sip steaming cups of coffee while sharing moments of camaraderie, despite the starkness of their surroundings.
A fine mist of sleet falls on another frigid night, coating the weathered barrel of a Soviet-era anti-aircraft gun, which is precariously mounted on an ancient, rusted lorry. Its silvery silhouette stands as a testament to the country’s resilience in the face of ongoing conflict.
These soldiers belong to a mobile air defence unit, bracing themselves for another relentless night of tracking and attempting to shoot down the Russian drones that threaten cities and crucial power plants across Ukraine amid the heightening conflict.
During our 48 hours spent embedded with these units, we focused our attention on the critical southern sector of Sumy, strategically located near the border with Russia, a region fraught with tension and danger.
Captain Serhii commands this brave band of men within the 117th Brigade, overseeing 160 soldiers across eight mobile units dedicated to safeguarding this vulnerable area in northeastern Ukraine. His leadership is vital in maintaining morale and coordination amid the chaos.
We met with him in a deserted car park adjacent to a high-rise apartment block, the kind that has become increasingly rare in war-torn cities. As he settled into the driver’s seat of his rugged 4×4, his brow furrowed in concentration as his scanning equipment detected a small assortment of drones on a flight path directly from Russia towards our position.
Harsh air raid sirens howled in the background, an eerie reminder of the constant threat looming over the city. He signaled for us to follow his vehicle as he tore down empty and shadowy country roads, skillfully navigating through multiple checkpoints, all under the cloak of night.
His earlier warning about an approaching drone abruptly became reality as he swerved off the road and leaped from his cab. Instantly, the dark sky erupted with the bright flares of mobile anti-aircraft batteries unleashing their fury towards the heavens. Tracers from the gunfire zipped dangerously overhead, mingling with the ominous drone’s whirring sound as it flew past.
Searchlights swept through dense fog that had blanketed the countryside, creating fleeting beams of light as soldiers strained to locate the airborne threat. Despite their efforts, the drone evaded detection, gradually fading into the distance until silence reclaimed the night.
Captain Serhii explained the challenges of the night, stating, “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. A spotlight is completely pointless.” He lamented the limiting factors posed by the weather, emphasizing, “The speed of these drones isn’t particularly high, so technically, we could hit them, but the weather makes it impossible.”
Every night across Ukraine, the tarpaulin covers are stripped from these Soviet-era anti-aircraft guns, an almost ritualistic preparation for the onslaught of aerial threats. On their weary, battered trucks, they rumble into the night, taking up defensive positions with the knowledge that these relics represent the country’s primary defense against an increasing number of drone assaults rained down by Russia.
The soldiers inform me that they typically encounter two types of drones operating concurrently: Gerberas and Shaheds. While the Gerberas are designed to act as decoys without carrying explosives, the Iranian-supplied Shahed drones are armed with explosives and have pre-programmed target intelligence, making them particularly dangerous.
One of the soldiers, Volodymyr, utilized a handheld tablet to monitor the drones’ movements. His eyes fixed on the screen, he patiently explained, “They generally fly between 200-300 meters up to 3 kilometers. If they’re below 300 meters, our radar won’t detect them.”
As the men gathered around their anti-air battery unit, tension mounted with the arrival of another drone approaching from our location. The gunner swiftly climbed onto the truck, diligently scanning for the target on the radar connected to his weapon, poised to fire once the drone ventured within a 10-kilometer range.
Suddenly, the night-time stillness was shattered by the thunderous sound of gunfire, as the gunner took aim at the drone. At that moment, all around us, other units joined in the audacious attack, their presence unnoticed until the night erupted in flames, disbelief hanging in the air.
It’s a relentless and fraught battle in this ongoing war for survival. Captain Serhii expressed a profound need for enhanced weaponry, stating, “Our critical job would be made easier with more sophisticated weapons like the American-made Patriot system. We need a stronger, more automated air defense system that operates independently of human involvement.”
He further asserted, “With winter fast approaching, our troops, who are on duty round the clock, will endure incredibly challenging conditions. They aren’t made of steel, which is exactly why having an automated system would be ideal for them.”
His outlook on potential political negotiations regarding the conflict was bleak, believing they could lead to unfavorable outcomes for Ukraine. “A frozen conflict is typically just a temporary pause. You can’t trust [Russian President Vladimir] Putin; any agreement made will likely benefit Russia,” he warned. “They’ll stockpile resources, more Shaheds, rockets, soldiers, even North Koreans, and then they’ll return, coming back stronger than before in 2022.”
As we regrouped with another mobile unit on the side of an empty road, they eagerly monitored the approach of an Iranian Shahed drone, assessing whether it would come into their responsive range as it glided unexpectedly closer.
When the moment came, they launched their attack, sending powerful rounds spiraling into the night air. The brilliant red, orange, and yellow flashes emanating from the weapon brightened the otherwise pitch-black sky, creating a striking contrast against the backdrop of chaos.
During our stay of 48 hours with the anti-aircraft units in the Sumy region, Russia unleashed a record number of drones over Ukrainian territory. Despite Ukraine’s own strengths, their counter-drone efforts fell significantly short compared to the scale of the Russian assault.
Night after bitterly cold night, hundreds of Ukrainian defenders take their positions, manning these timeworn guns with a resolute spirit. These brave soldiers become the last line of defense—a flawed but essential represents of hope and resistance in the enduring conflict.
Ops are stretched thin. We’re fighting against a tide that shows no signs of receding.” A chorus of empathy rippled through the soldiers, understanding the heavy burden on their commander while also feeling the strain themselves.
The night stretched on, tapering between moments of chaotic action and unsettling stillness, a dance as old as warfare itself. Amid the drudgery of fatigue and the biting cold, there was a tangible sense of camaraderie among the men—a bond forged under fire, unyielding like the rusted guns they operated.
In this gritty tableau of resilience, the stakes are unimaginable, woven with elements of anxiety, duty, and grim humor. Captain Serhii’s determination and the soldiers’ resolve make for a stark reminder that while the fog of war may shroud the enemy, it cannot dim their spirits. As dawn broke, the shadows of the night revealed nothing but an expanse of silence, a brief reprieve that would soon give way to another round of uncertainty.
Reflecting on their fight, the underlying message became clear: resilience, ingenuity, and unwavering commitment define these defenders. They hold the line in a battle that is far from over, and every night, they prepare for whatever darkness might come next. Their story—a blend of chaos and courage—echoes across the miles, reminding the world that amid the horrors of conflict, hope, and brotherhood persist, lighting the path ahead.