Has Ukraine created a ‘wonder weapon’? RICHARD PENDLEBURY spends days deep underground on the Kharkiv frontline to witness the unjammable killer drone that could decide the war
In the first part of a riveting two-part series documenting Ukraine’s new fiber optic drones, Award-winning foreign correspondent Richard Pendlebury joins the elite Charter Brigade to become the first reporter to witness ‘wonderful weapons’ in battle.
Fiber optic kamikaze drones are inflicting heavy losses on Russian forces on the Kharkiv front line. What differentiates them from traditional attack drones is extremely simple; They cannot be mixed.
With the addition of the thin fiber optic cable going from the drone to its operator, the devices are not affected in any way by the enemy’s electronic warfare systems.
Although cables limit their range, the drones are controlled by specialized soldiers who live and operate in bunkers deep underground, carrying out deadly attacks before returning underground.
Fiber optic kamikaze drones inflict heavy losses on Russian forces. What differentiates them from traditional drones is extremely simple; they are incompressible
Award-winning foreign correspondent Richard Pendlebury joins elite Charter Brigade to become first reporter to witness ‘wonderful weapons’ in battle
Before meeting these pilots in their underground bunker, Pendlebury explained what makes drones so innovative.
He said: ‘The Charter Brigade is at the forefront of the use of the fibre-optic kamikaze drone, the so-called miracle weapon, which first appeared on the battlefield in the autumn of 2024.
‘Ordinary first-person kamikaze drones have dominated the Ukrainian battlefield for at least two years. They are controlled by radio signals that can be intercepted by the enemy’s electronic warfare equipment.
‘Fiber optic kamikaze drones are instead controlled via a thin cable connected to a pilot’s handset for up to 40 kilometres. Signals passing through it are immune to electronic interference.
‘They look like deadly kites; ‘Unlike ordinary drones, they can lie on the ground and wait for a passing victim.’
Pendlebury spent days underground with three drone pilots, team leaders Puma, Kush, and Umbrella, known only by their military call signs.
Pendlebury spent days underground with three drone pilots, team leaders Puma, Kush, and Umbrella, known only by their military call signs.
Puma, one of the drone pilots, shows Pendlebury how to build a fiber optic drone, revealing another key strength of the weapon
The drone can be assembled in as little as 30 minutes, and fiber optic cables add only 10 minutes to normal build time
Their commanders told the reporter about a recent Russian incursion into Ukrainian territory to demonstrate the lethal effectiveness of new weapons.
He said: ‘The last time Russian tanks were here was on May 15 last year.
‘Our side and their side had to negotiate. The next morning the Russians launched a major attack in our direction. Six armored vehicles, two cars and a cannon. ‘All were destroyed by our drone units.’
Puma, one of the drone pilots, shows Pendlebury how to build a fiber optic drone, revealing another important power of the weapon.
Installation can be completed in as little as 30 minutes, with fiber optic cabling adding only 10 minutes to normal construction time.
This allows the unit to keep multiple UAVs on standby, ready to replace those lost or destroyed in combat.
“We keep a stockpile,” Puma said through a translator. ‘We just need to put a shell on and it’ll be up to the task.’
Watch Pendlebury’s full report from deep inside the Kharkiv front line by subscribing to the Daily Mail World YouTube channel.
