According to a UAV platoon commander from the 103rd Motor Rifle Regiment of Russia’s Yug Group of Forces, known by the call sign Chur, Russian troops in the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration are targeting Ukrainian drone launch sites and their crews.

He said the current priority is to identify the positions from which Ukrainian forces launch their UAVs. Russian units do not always try to destroy an enemy drone immediately if they can track its route and locate the point of origin.

Chur explained that, in his view, destroying the launch crew is more effective than simply shooting down a large agricultural drone, since the aircraft can be replaced while trained operators are harder to substitute.

He also said his unit destroys three to four heavy enemy drones each day. In addition, UAV crews identify Ukrainian artillery positions, firing points and tanks.

According to the commander, both the airspace and the ground situation are under constant observation. Enemy movements are tracked, and Russian operators work against detected targets on a daily basis.