Ukraine’s drone commander has Russian oil, troops and morale in his sights

In a rare conversation, Robert Brovdi, the leader of Ukraine’s unmanned systems, describes his forces as a “red rag to the enemy.” “We’re pushing the conflict into their homeland, making them feel the weight of war,” he says, as his team hurries to prepare long-range drones for deployment against Russia. Over the past weeks, Ukraine has ramped up its deep strikes, particularly targeting energy infrastructure, with a level of intensity unseen before. Brovdi insists these attacks will grow, and his drones are also playing a key role in slowing Russian advances by neutralizing a significant number of frontline troops.

“Going 1,500 to 2,000km (930-1,240 miles) into Russian territory means the ‘peaceful rear’ is no longer safe,” Brovdi warns. “The Ukrainian ‘bird’—symbol of freedom—flies freely, striking wherever it chooses.”

At a covert launch site in eastern Ukraine, a misty field, the drones are loaded and ready. The team scrambles to safety as Russian forces could spot them and unleash missiles. A sharp command, the roar of an engine, and a burst of light mark the first drone’s ascent toward the enemy like a tiny jet. President Volodymyr Zelensky refers to these deep strikes as “very painful” for Moscow, inflicting “critical” damage in the energy sector that costs tens of billions of dollars, even as global oil prices rise.

The surge in such operations is driven by both technology and strategy. Locally built drones now travel over 1,000km, with some models covering twice that distance. Brovdi emphasizes that Russia’s energy exports have become a top priority. “Putin transforms resources into blood dollars,” he says, explaining how drones and missiles are used to attack Ukraine. “If oil refineries fuel war, they’re fair game.”

Residents in Tuapse, a Black Sea coastal town, report toxic rain after recent strikes on the local refinery. Yet Brovdi remains unwavering. “They’re tools of war,” he states. “Destroying them is justified.”

The War in the Skies

Brovdi’s command hub is hidden deep underground, accessible only via a van with tinted windows. We descend through dim corridors lined with sleeping pods, arriving at a high-tech cavern where screens cover every surface. A rhythmic soundtrack of bleeps and pings accompanies the real-time data flow to a group of operators in casual attire, focused on joysticks and keyboards. Their screens show live footage from drone pilots with names like KitKat and Antalya.

Despite comprising just 2% of Ukraine’s military, Brovdi’s drone forces claim to destroy a third of all targets. His unit’s casualty rate is low—less than 1% annually. Every strike is recorded and analyzed, with a wall of monitors displaying a live tally of operations. Recently, he reported eliminating a dozen Russian FSB officers in occupied areas and damaging multiple energy sites within Russia.

A New Weapon in the Conflict

Brovdi’s tactics are vital to undermining Putin’s goals, especially his attempt to seize eastern Donbas within months. “What is he smoking?” he challenges. “That’s unrealistic. It’s absurd.”

Before the war, Brovdi was a successful grain trader and art enthusiast. His pre-war life lingers in paintings and sculptures by Ukrainian artists displayed alongside missile casings and captured drones in the bunker. A Hungarian native from Uzhhorod in western Ukraine, he’s known by his call sign, Magyar. Once clean-shaven, he now sports a long, grey-streaked beard. He joined the military just before Russia’s full-scale invasion, driven by the belief that war was inevitable. Early battles in Bakhmut and later in Kherson revealed the potential of drones, shifting his focus from commerce to combat.