Ukrainian soldiers responsible for brazen long-range drone strikes on Russian military sites and oil refineries operate under near-total secrecy, using encrypted communications, cash-only transactions, and hidden identities to protect themselves and their families from retaliation.
Secret Lives of Ukraine's Drone Operators
Denys, a former marine whose name has been changed, has been part of the deep-strike unit since 2025. His friends and even his parents remain unaware of his role due to ultra-strict operational security. "Don't draw attention to yourself, don't brag. You'll never be able to talk about what you've done, even after the war," he told AFP in a rare interview. Denys serves at Center No. 1 of Ukraine's drone forces, which has carried out major attacks including a June strike on a Moscow oil refinery that sent thick black smoke over the Russian capital, and an attack on Saint Petersburg during an international conference.
Extreme Secrecy Measures
The unit enforces a strict code of silence. Names and ages are classified; faces are always hidden in photos or videos. AFP journalists had to follow stringent security protocols to access a launch site. "We ourselves understand how high the price can be for our loved ones and for us — that's why the primary, conscious decision we make is to stay as much as possible in the shadows," said a soldier using the call sign Voron, meaning raven in Ukrainian. Russia, he added, will do "everything possible to hunt down at least one of these deep-strike groups."
Voron, once a painter and martial arts trainer, now lives a double life. He maintains a social media presence suggesting he serves in his former army unit, complete with its insignia. "All my relatives and friends think I'm still in the special forces," he said. "In daily life, you wouldn't recognize us," added Wolf, a GUR military intelligence officer. "We maintain discretion... to pass for ordinary people." Voron noted, "People picture us as some kind of commando in camouflage, but in reality we go around in shirts and jeans."
Operational Security Protocols
In public, team members avoid any talk of missions. Words like "takeoff" or "wing" are banned. All purchases are made with cash, with care to vary the ATMs used. Even petrol station loyalty programs are off-limits. Their phones must remain in flight mode at all times, connected only to personal portable routers. Special encrypted phones are used for military communications, and any device with geolocation capabilities is strictly forbidden. Lie detectors are employed if information leaks are suspected or to vet new recruits.
Impact and Challenges
Ukraine's drone strikes have triggered a fuel crisis across large parts of Russia, though the impact on Moscow's war chest remains difficult to assess. Kyiv calls the hits fair retribution for Russia's nightly barrages on Ukrainian cities. The team now faces a growing constraint: not a shortage of drones, but "hours in a day," according to Denys. He dreams of launching a strike on the Kremlin and hopes for the "total defeat of Russia." He described the long-range strikes as "ice cracking under the Russians' feet. We are doing everything we can so that it gives way beneath them."
