Ukraine shifts drone control to distant sites, but ground crews still face front-line risk

New satellite communication capabilities enable Ukrainian drone crews to control interceptor and other unmanned aircraft from secure, distant locations, sometimes outside the country. Despite this technological leap, the physical tasks of moving, preparing and arming the drones still require soldiers positioned near the battlefield. Wild Hornets has developed equipment that allows pilots to fly its drones from hundreds of kilometres away, while analysts like Dmytro Zhluktenko note that ground teams remain essential for attaching explosives and setting up the aircraft.

Defense officials, including Mykhailo Fedorov, highlight the safety advantages of remote operation, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi emphasize broader aims to reduce troop exposure through robots and AI. Robotic launch platforms are being tested but have not become common, meaning full automation of drone missions is not yet possible.