Mobile air defense teams from the 1st Guards Tank Army of Russia’s Battlegroup West have linked their units through a shared radio network in the border areas of the Lugansk People’s Republic. The system allows crews to detect, track and destroy Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles more quickly.

A battery commander and senior officer responsible for mobile fire teams in the 49th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, known by the call sign Major, said the units continuously exchange information about the situation in the air. Crews report everything they can see or hear, enabling commanders to determine a drone’s direction and redeploy a team to the required sector when necessary.

The officer said the performance of mobile air defense groups largely depends on their equipment. Night-vision devices, television-based surveillance systems and suitable weapons are essential for detecting and engaging incoming UAVs. Machine guns also need to be mounted on vehicles so that crews can rapidly change positions and remain mobile.

The main task of the units operating near the LPR border is to intercept Ukrainian drones heading toward facilities located beyond the special military operation zone.

Major said that whenever a group of UAVs passes through the area, Russian crews aim to destroy at least one aircraft and potentially several. The result depends on the altitude and speed of the incoming drones.