‘Drone War Reaches a New Level’: Ukraine’s UAVs Now Saving Each Other on the Battlefield
Ukrainian forces have revealed an inventive battlefield tactic: using one drone to evacuate two others.
The 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) shared a video on Facebook showing a drone – nicknamed Nemesis – rescuing two reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Leleka and Mara, from the front lines.
While Kyiv Post could not independently verify the video’s time or location, it appears to capture a unique moment in drone warfare.
“Drone war reaches a new level – Private ‘Nemesis’ rescues Privates ‘Leleka’ and ‘Mara’,” reads the description.
“It was a difficult and risky, but brilliantly executed operation by the 63rd Brigade’s drone pilots,” the brigade said.
A Ukrainian drone operator, speaking anonymously to Kyiv Post, confirmed that retrieving downed drones with other UAVs is not uncommon, especially in mined areas where access is otherwise impossible.
“This is how we used to recover Mavic drones – if they landed on a roof or in a field close to enemy positions. But there’s always a risk of losing the rescue drone too,” he said.
In this case, the risks were deemed worth it.
“These drones are expensive, and production can’t keep up with demand. Everyone’s in line to get one,” the operator added.
Mara: small, stealthy, and smart
First introduced in 2014, and later upgraded, Mara (short for Modular Advanced Robotic Aircraft) is a Ukrainian-made reconnaissance system. The lightweight drone can fit in a backpack, flies up to 45 kilometers (28 miles) deep into enemy territory, and operates in winds of up to 20 m/s (45 mph). It uses dual cameras for simultaneous photo and video capture.
According to a Ukrainian military source cited by Liga.net, Mara’s stealth is so effective that Russian missiles can’t lock onto it.
“We have footage of three missiles flying at Mara – and all three missed. Its radar and thermal signatures are too low to be detected,” the official said.
Even if its link to the operator is jammed, Mara can complete its mission autonomously and return.
“If captured, the enemy won’t know where it came from, where it’s going, or who controlled it,” the source added.
Leleka-100: reliable and resilient
Another drone evacuated from the battlefield was the Leleka-100, a brigade-level reconnaissance UAV capable of conducting missions dozens of kilometers behind enemy lines, according to ArmyInform.
Well-protected against Russian electronic warfare systems, the Leleka-100 can operate day and night directly over enemy positions. It is also resistant to adverse weather conditions, functioning in dense cloud cover and light rain – provided it remains in the air no longer than 20 minutes during rainfall.
The Leleka-100 is one of the most popular and effective reconnaissance drones used at the brigade level. It is commonly employed to correct artillery fire at ranges of up to 50 kilometers (31 miles).
According to the Militarniy media outlet, the drone is capable of taking off and landing in radio silence mode. During flight, the operator can choose to activate or deactivate the video broadcast, giving the system added stealth and flexibility.
Nemesis: a rescue drone with firepower
The rescuing drone, Nemesis, is no ordinary UAV. Developed from scratch in 2022 by a group of Ukrainian engineers, it has become one of the most feared weapons in Ukraine’s drone arsenal.
“This is death for them [the Russians] – for both personnel and equipment. It can destroy anything,” a fighter from the 412th Battalion told Vikna media.
Nemesis, sometimes called “Baba Yaga” by Russian forces, belongs to a terrifying (for the Russians) class of bomber drones that operate mostly at night.
Equipped with Starlink communications, it can theoretically fly thousands of kilometers. The pilot can be based in Kyiv, while local troops simply prepare munitions and launch the UAV.
Though many details are classified, Ukrainian news outlets report:
Payload: 15+ kg (33 pounds)
Capable of carrying anti-tank, mortar, and anti-personnel munitions
Operational day and night, in all weather
Used to deliver supplies (food, medicine, water)
Has already struck tens of thousands of targets
Source: Julia Struck