Fighting mercenaries: A Ukrainian soldier’s perspective

Send Alia a Text Message

Alia sits down with Dimko Zhluktenko, a Ukrainian drone pilot and analyst within the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Ukrainian military. They discuss the realities of drone warfare in Ukraine, as well as the ways in which mercenary forces change the nature and tempo of battle. Dimko describes the toll of the Battle of Bakhmut on Ukrainian soldiers, the psychological mechanisms necessary to keep fighting an army which uses waves of expendable manpower, his experiences with Shahed drones, and the need for NATO to start thinking of drones as bullets.

The Guns for Hire podcast is written, produced and hosted by Dr Alia Brahimi.

Get in touch at: [e-mail].