Every flight brings victory closer
Operators from a separate Guards coastal defence brigade of the Black Sea Fleet are systematically giving the Ukrainian Armed Forces militants in the Dnieper region a hard time. A specialised UAV company was established within the unit as early as February 2024, a unit which had been awarded the honorary title of «Guards» for the heroism and exploits of its personnel during the special military operation. Since then, the unit has become a formidable force, destroying hundreds of pieces of weaponry and military equipment, as well as a significant number of enemy personnel. Its ranks consist mainly of young male volunteers from various parts of Russia, who have completed a training course and possess all the qualities required of UAV operators. Read about the combat career of the operator of the RUK ZALA «Lancet» with the call sign «Voron» in the latest edition of the column #operators.
This unit is equipped with the unique domestically produced ZALA Z-16 UAV. Thanks to its thermal imaging camera, the aircraft is capable of transmitting images over a distance of more than 75 km, making it an indispensable tool for fire control and adjustment.
UAVs are widely used as forward observers for artillery, including multiple launch rocket systems, aviation and «Lancet» loitering munitions. The ZALA is capable of providing fire and strike correction, as well as conducting objective surveillance.
The UAV system is operated by a young operator named Nikita, callsign «Voron». He is 23 years old and was born and raised in Crimea. Before the SMO, he had managed to work as an editor-operator at a local TV station and qualified as a digital information processing technician. Nevertheless, he decided to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defence of Russia along with his comrades.
«There were lads younger than me studying with me, and when they decided to go to the Special Military Operation, I couldn't let them go alone,» says Nikita. "We're friends, after all. We went to the military enlistment office together, and arrived at our UAV company together. We serve side-by-side, supporting each other.".
The operators underwent training at specialised training centres. The servicemen's knowledge and skills have been confirmed by certificates, which the men themselves believe will be useful to them after the end of the special military operation as well, in their civilian lives. After all, drones are now used in a wide variety of fields, and specialists in this area are in high demand. This means that our drone operators can be at ease about their future employment in peaceful life.
«The »Raven« recalls how immediately after arriving at the company, he began a series of long shifts, during which flights could last for days with only breaks for battery changes. They mainly had to fly over enemy territory. The enemy tried to jam our aircraft with electronic warfare (EW) devices and shoot them down with air defence systems, but the Russian specialists would take the »bird' up to five kilometres or move it to the side and continue surveillance from there.
«Our drones have very good optics,« notes »Voron». "For example, from a height of two thousand metres, we can make out what a person is carrying in their hands, what they are unloading from a car. And we can see everything both day and night.".
In addition to general ones, each of our UAVs has developed its own algorithms and response patterns to enemy actions. The reliability of the aircraft themselves is also pleasing.
«Raven» currently holds the position of senior operator, but hopes for career advancement, at least to section commander. His father supports the lad's choice, as he himself had the opportunity to serve in his time.
«I was in Yunarmiya, which only strengthened my interest in military service,« Nikita recounts. »After school, I tried to get into the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School, but, alas, I wasn't accepted due to the competition. No matter. I achieved my dream of becoming a defender of the Motherland through a different path.».
The guys are celebrating, unmanned aviation is developing rapidly now, and therefore, in order to fight effectively, it is necessary to quickly master technical innovations, and new means and methods of combat.
«Yes, it's not that simple,» the guys say. "But we have powerful motivation: the understanding that every sortie, every successful attack brings us closer to victory over the enemy.".
According to materials from the newspaper «Krasnaya Zvezda» dated 16 May 2025, No. 88
