State support boosts drone supply to 50%: 92nd brigade reveals UAV costs and success rates

He shared the information on Espreso TV.

"Expenditure of resources, in particular UAVs, is an integral part of combat operations, both reconnaissance, reusable and “kamikaze” with a one-way flight path. As for the direct support of the unit, as of seven months ago, the supply was carried out according to the following algorithm: 20% of the equipment, including UAVs, we received from the state and 80% were provided by the Ukrainian nation at the expense of volunteer large companies and every Ukrainian. Today, the supply is showing positive dynamics: we receive 50% of UAVs centrally from the state for combat missions and 50% are those provided by donations from Ukrainians, volunteer organizations, foundations, and foreign citizens who support Ukraine," the military explained.

According to him, one unit can use about 30-35 FPV drones per day, and the cost of one is about $500.

"Thus, we spend $15,000-18,000 daily. This gives results because FPV drones are high-precision weapons, unfortunately, not every one reaches the target due to enemy electronic warfare and many other factors, but the statistics of use is 60% to 40%, where 60% reach their targets. As a result, assaults are repelled, enemy infantry groups are destroyed, as well as their lightly armored, armored vehicles and artillery. The more enemy artillery we destroy, the less the enemy's firepower on our positions, the more opportunities for the infantry to hold them and repel assaults," emphasizes the commander of the 92nd Brigade's UAV company.

Fedorenko emphasized that in Ukraine, FPV drones are predominantly assembled by private companies, leading to a proliferation of local assembly points. If all these assembly points are fully operational, it is feasible to produce up to a million drones within a year. 

Simultaneously, this UAV functions as a carrier, capable of transporting essential supplies such as medicine or water to locations inaccessible to soldiers safely. However, its primary purpose lies in delivering explosives to target enemy positions.

"The FPV-copter is equipped with various types of ammunition, including centralized ammunition. This development came about as a result of the conditional opening of the ammunition market this year. Ukrainian enterprises were assigned specific technical tasks, and as a result, several ammunition products have successfully undergone state testing. I firmly believe that in 2024, the Ministry of Defense will proceed with the purchase of these tested ammunition products. This proves that any unit that uses drones must have a group of servicemen who will be engaged directly on the front line in attaching the required type of ammunition to a specific FPV-copter according to its technical characteristics," the military said.

Fedorenko added that the same drone can carry fragmentation, thermobaric, accumulative or self-propelled ammunition, as it depends on the task the military has to perform.

Espreso TV is calling for donations for “kamikaze” drones for the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Ivan Sirko - 5375 4112 0772 8440.