Dronefield

  What is Ptaki Madziara Ptaki Madziara is the common name for the drone-warfare unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, officially designated as 414th Unmanned Strike Aviation Brigade . Wikipedia +2 112.ua +2 The unit was founded in May 2022 by volunteer and former businessman Robert Brovdi (call-sign: “Madyar”). Interfax-Ukraine +2 Wikipedia +2 Originally starting as a small platoon using improvised drones (including FPV drones and lightweight unmanned aircraft), it quickly expanded — first to a battalion, then regiment, and by end of 2024 was reorganized into a full separate brigade. MilitaryLand.net +2 Euromaidan Press +2 Roles, Capabilities, and Operations The brigade specializes in drone-based strike operations, reconnaissance, electronic warfare (EW), remote mining, and fire-correction using UAVs . Euromaidan Press +2 Інтерфакс-Україна +2 They also reportedly have their own munitions production, a UAV customisation center, and training schools for FPV pilots a...

The article describes how Ukraine has built a massive grassroots drone-industry powering its war effort: from small 3D-printing workshops to full-fledged drone factories. For example, a volunteer initiative called DrukArmy — run by an employee of telecom firm Kyivstar — transforms 3D-printed parts into battlefield devices such as mines. On the front, elite drone units such as Ptaki Madziara and Kraken 1654 operate small, highly skilled 2–3-person teams. Their drones, along with FPV systems, AI-assisted targeting, and electronic-warfare tools, now account for roughly 80% of battlefield losses. This has expanded combat zones into a 20–25 km “grey zone,” rather than a clearly defined front line. Training happens in institutions like KillHouse Academy in Kyiv, where new operators learn piloting, reconnaissance, and combat drone tactics — often under constantly changing technological and battlefield conditions. Meanwhile volunteer-based networks like Social Drone coordinate thousands ...