Ukraine's elite drone brigade, known as "Magyar's Birds," is conducting deep strikes into Russian-occupied territory, targeting power infrastructure and logistics networks, according to an exclusive report. The campaign, dubbed the Crimean "switch off," aims to disconnect the peninsula from electricity and supply lines, with 13 power nodes hit in a single night.
Drone Warfare: A New Era
In a field of sunflowers at sunset, Lt Col Ray, commander of the ninth 'Kairos' Battalion, launched a long-range drone toward Crimea. The unmanned aircraft, resembling a biplane with a wooden propeller, carried 50-100kg of explosives. Its target: a 110kV electricity substation in Alushta, which erupted in flames upon impact.
The drone, built by a Kyiv-based defense startup, can fly over 2,500km, reaching anywhere in European Russia. This attack on 21 July was part of a broader strategy to cripple Crimea's infrastructure, hitting 13 electricity nodes in Russian-controlled areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces.
Ukraine's Response to Russian Aggression
Since 2022, Russia has launched nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities with Iranian-designed Shahed drones and missiles. In response, Ukraine has developed its own military manufacturing base, becoming a world leader in unmanned systems. Ray's battalion, named after the Greek god Kairos, has conducted hundreds of deep strikes against oil refineries, warehouses, and munitions depots.
"This is where democracy beats totalitarianism. It's like George Orwell. But this time Big Brother loses," Ray said, as his drone disappeared over the horizon.
Psychological Impact on Russia
Ukrainian drones have struck Moscow and St Petersburg, embarrassing President Putin and bringing the war home to Russian citizens. "I think Putin is afraid," Ray suggested. "One of the justifications he gave for his war was to stop Ukraine from bombing Moscow. It's happening now as a direct consequence of his actions."
Ray expressed feelings of "revenge and justice" with each launch, emphasizing Ukraine's fight for independence and freedom.
Secrecy and Success
The drone operation is shrouded in secrecy, with crews given coordinates at the last minute. No launch participants have been injured or killed, despite Russian attempts to locate and destroy launch sites. One crew member noted the solitary nature of the work: "You can't tell anybody about what you do, even your wife, or boast: 'Today we bombed Moscow.'"
Kairos is part of "Magyar's Birds," led by Robert Brovdi, head of Ukraine's unmanned systems forces. Brovdi's campaign has destroyed over 200 vessels in the Sea of Azov and Black Sea, and recently burned at least nine Wildberries warehouses, Russia's Amazon equivalent, causing billions in damages.
Russia's Weakness Exposed
Brovdi said Ukrainian long-range drones have "significantly thinned out" Russia's air defenses, with 305 systems knocked out. Russia's vast size has become a liability, forcing the Kremlin to move air defenses from the frontline to protect Moscow. Crimea now faces fuel shortages and power cuts, hindering Russian military operations.
"The operation is endless. There will be a cascade effect," said Schweik, a brigade member. "They will be thinking about survival instead of assault operations."
Challenges and Outlook
Not all drones reach their targets; about a third are intercepted over occupied territory, with higher losses over Russia. Despite this, Ukraine's strategy of economic pressure appears effective. "Troops and resources must be exhausted, so that it becomes impossible for them to continue the war," Brovdi said.
While Russian troops advance in the Donbas, Brovdi noted their gains don't justify the cost. "At this rate, with their intention to seize half of Ukraine, are they planning to fight for 100 years?" he asked.
Back at the launch site, "Panama," a senior sergeant, described the operation as a success, praising the reliability of domestically produced drones. Even the mosquitoes didn't bother him: "They are inhabitants of free Ukraine. They can do whatever they want."
