Dimko Luktenko: erstwhile we are on mission, our squad operates from an underground bunker or hides in open space. There must be trees there to defend us. That's where we launch our recon drone that transmits live video.
Commercial targets up to 50 km behind the front line: Russian air defence systems, artillery systems, logistics bases, command stations. We're trying to put together all the pieces of the puzzle, it's like a detective's job. Since the Russians besides usage many atraps, we are not always certain that what we see is real.
What happens erstwhile you discover the target?
In addition to us, live broadcasts can besides be watched by officers who sit in a safe place, in Dniepra, or even in Kiev. Together, we decide whether the mark should be destroyed by artillery or HIMARS .
On the net you can encounter violent videos showing how Russian soldiers are killed with FPV drones. Do you control those?
No, others do. In my unit, young people take care of it, and they're rather happy with the job, having fun. But I've already been able to contribute to the fact that the artillery shelling hit a gap in which 10 Russian idiots were hiding.
How do you justice the capabilities of the Russian army?
Here, in the Donetsk region, we have our best men. They have their best people here, too. The first thing I've learned is not to underestimate the enemy. Sometimes he's smart. In addition to professionals However, the Russians have their disposable soldierswho are their main combat force. That's why they storm almost constantly.
They send possibly 50 people, and already 5 km in front of the front line 80 percent of them die. That's why they started now send tiny groups, may consist of 3 people. specified soldiers have almost no supplies and only a tiny amount of ammunition.
Their commanders do not anticipate to survive, but hope to kill as many Ukrainian defenders as possible.
Most of them, however, do not get far adequate to usage weapons. It's all beautiful cruel and inhuman. It's very hard from a moral point of view. These soldiers are sent to a meaningless, useless death.
The Russians aren't shorthanded?
There's no sign that the attacks are weakening. The Russians are willing to sacrifice an unlimited number of people. The number of people who lose all day is absolutely crazy. But it does not shrink, but it does grow.
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At the same time, we are increasingly successful in eliminating them from a distance, due to the fact that we focus more on drones. That way, we don't lose our people.
You ran a relief organization for soldiers. Why did you decide to become a soldier on your own?
Because of my charity, I'd be relieved of military service. However, I concluded that in the army I could do more for my country. The relief organization is now run by my wife. He's a better manager, more successful there than I am. As in most countries, there is besides negative selection in Ukraine: intelligent and well educated people did not join the army.
The army needs people like me.. I can quit comfort, and I'm good with the complicated technology we usage to destruct the enemy.
“This thought gives me quite a few hope and energy”
Many Ukrainians fled abroad to avoid enlistment.
Yeah, it makes me very upset, makes me sad. My friends besides left illegally and now live, for example, in the United States. I'm not talking to them right now. It's about the endurance of our nation. They don't do their job.
How do you personally deal with the hazard of death?
I just accepted it. It's crucial to do what's right while I'm alive. That thought gives me quite a few hope and energy. Fear of death is only in the background, it doesn't substance much. The Russians are inactive trying to kill us, whether we're soldiers or civilians.
When will peace come?
The Russians don't want peace. Unfortunately, it's not like all this is happening just due to the fact that Putin is crazy. It's not. No, Putin just represents the will of his people. The Russians are massively supporting this invasion.
Russian soldiers (illustration picture)Stringer/Anadol Agency via Getty Images / Getty Images
There are barely any protests. Crowds They volunteer to the army, work in rocket factories.. They consider themselves chosen, the strongest. They want Russia to be an imperialist power.
If the Russians had said, "We have done bad things, we will never do it again," we apologize — then we Ukrainians could have forgiven them after a fewer generations. But there are no Russians who say what they're doing is wrong. Even in the large Russian diaspora, there are no voices that clearly argue war.
So what happens next?
There's a bloody deadlock. Of course, I want this was over. I'm far from supporting the killing of, say, another 100,000 Russian soldiers. due to the fact that I actually have better things to do in life and better things to do in time. I never wanted to do that. But they don't stop, so we inactive gotta do everything we can to halt them.
