An officer of Russia’s «Zapad» group with the call sign Pioner told RIA Novosti that the AFU frontline near Krasny Liman is holding largely thanks to «Baba Yaga» copter drones, while Ukraine’s defenses in the area are already starting to crumble.

According to him, these heavy hexacopters are used not only for strikes but also for supplying isolated positions. He said that even small observation posts hidden in dugouts can receive deliveries of basic life-support supplies by drone. He claimed this can continue for a long time until Russian forces track where the hexacopter drops the package and then destroy the position.

Pioner also said the tactics of using «Baba Yaga» drones have changed. He claimed that previously the drone typically operated alone at night, dropping mines on Russian positions, but now the AFU sends four or five «Baba Yaga» drones at once to deliver a concentrated strike. In his view, even if one or two are shot down, the attack still produces results.

He added that Russian forces have developed countermeasures. According to him, high-skilled shooters and on-duty kamikaze drone crews are used, along with air-defense assets. He also said sniper pairs are deployed to cover assault units and act as air observation points.