Russian Soldier Repels 500 Troops, Ukrainian Drone Pilot Killed

Leading Role in Establishing Ukraine Drone Unit

Ukraine's elite drone pilot has died at the young age of 29. However, the Ukrainian military has not disclosed the specific cause of the pilot's death.

On the 20th (local time), the Ukrainian local media outlet 'New Voice of Ukraine' reported that Viktor Stelmakh (29), a drone pilot belonging to the Ukrainian military, was confirmed to have died on the 18th. Stelmakh was an elite pilot who subdued more than 500 Russian soldiers by operating drones on the battlefield.

Ukrainian drone pilot Viktor Stelmakh [Image source= SNS capture]

The Ukrainian military's 68th Special Forces Brigade issued a statement saying, "Stelmakh took up the defense of the homeland immediately after the outbreak of the war," and "He started as an infantryman but grew into a drone pilot, playing a leading role in the establishment of the Ukrainian military's drone unit and training its members." However, the brigade did not disclose the specific circumstances of Stelmakh's death for security reasons.

Stelmakh's callsign was 'Sava.' His comrades commemorated him as a "true hero of the battlefield." Andriy Onistrat, commander of the 68th Brigade's strike aviation company, wrote on social media, "He was the best pilot," adding, "A brave patriot with a thirst for war. If everyone fought like Sava, we would have already won."

Currently, the Ukrainian military is actively operating drones to supplement its long-range firepower, which is inferior compared to Russia's. Ukraine's main drones are usually small FPV (first-person view) drones equipped with cameras, which respond by dropping small bombs over enemy heads or by self-destructing.

An example of a drone equipped with a bomb. [Image source=Official website of the Council of Europe]

Unlike infantry soldiers who fight directly with rifles, drone pilots perform their missions by controlling drones from a distance. However, drone pilots are by no means safe on the battlefield. Most FPV drones have limited maximum flight ranges, so pilots must risk exposing their locations by approaching near enemy lines.

Stelmakh's achievements were also well known to the Ukrainian public. His image appeared in a video of the Ukrainian military's defensive operations last September.

Meanwhile, the 68th Special Forces Brigade, to which Stelmakh belonged, is a special unit established after the Russia-Ukraine war began. It is composed of retired soldiers and civilians with specialized knowledge useful for warfare, and is said to be specialized in operations in forests and swamps. The unit has also achieved numerous remarkable victories, including recapturing Ukrainian villages occupied by Russia.