Yuriy Fedorenko, Achilles Regiment (photo: RBC-Ukraine) Author: Bogdana Lyaskovskaya
In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the 429th separate regiment of unmanned systems “Achilles”, spoke about the role that drones play in modern warfare, whether they can completely replace artillery, the role of the rear in victory, and military training from school.
“Achilles” is a volunteer unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, created in the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion. Its main tasks are aerial reconnaissance and fire destruction of enemy forces and assets using drones.
The history of the unit began on February 24, 2022, when a group of volunteers formed a rifle company of the 128th battalion of the 112th territorial defense brigade in the Dniprovsky district of Kyiv.
At first, the company participated in the defense of the Chaika airfield in the Zhitomir direction during the battle for Kyiv, and was subsequently redeployed to the Brovary direction. In May 2022, the unit began military operations in the Kharkiv region, holding positions near the village of Bazalievka.
It was then that a group emerged that used UAVs for aerial reconnaissance and artillery fire adjustment. Thanks to the initiative of the commander, Yuri “Achilles” Fedorenko, the company began to work together with the artillery of the 92nd separate assault brigade.
In January 2023, it was reformatted into a company of strike unmanned aerial systems “Achilles” as part of the same 92nd Separate Assault Brigade. During 2023-24, the unit achieved significant success, destroying and damaging about 20 thousand enemy military targets.
This led to further expansion, and in January 2025, the Achilles Battalion was scaled up to the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment as part of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
We had previously agreed with the commander to meet in the Kupyansk direction, but the good news about the expansion of the battalion allowed us to meet in Kyiv, where Fedorenko is currently busy with recruiting matters and expanding the regiment.
In a conversation with RBC-Ukraine, the regiment commander spoke about the evolution of unmanned technologies and their place on the modern battlefield. It all started with the search for the most accessible means of defeating the enemy. And two years ago, drones were something new, but today they have become a powerful tool for conducting combat operations, both for Ukrainian defenders and for enemy forces.
Half of the targets are destroyed using UAVs
“50% of targets on the battlefield are destroyed by drones,” says the commander.
However, UAVs cannot completely replace artillery on the battlefield.
– Artillery and unmanned systems should not even be compared. Artillery is the only means of fire impact on the enemy, which will be relevant, in my opinion, for the next 50 years. Because artillery works in any weather conditions. Artillery has a fairly serious impact on the enemy. Artillery is a force that cannot be replaced by anything on the battlefield, – explains Fedorenko.
The regiment commander also draws attention to another common, but erroneous, opinion – that drones can replace reconnaissance assets in modern warfare. However, UAVs have only occupied their niche, allowing data to be received from deep behind enemy lines in real time. Fedorenko emphasized that it is important to correctly combine all available reconnaissance assets, since in difficult weather conditions or electronic interference, only one type may not be effective enough.
– For example, two days of thick fog. It is impossible to learn anything this way. Drones will be effective at a very low level. We will only be able to see in front of us. As a result, the enemy may achieve partial success. Therefore, on the battlefield, everything works in a single coordinate system. Drones have provided a unique opportunity. We began to see the enemy online from the front line of contact and deep into their operational space, – says Fedorenko.
In addition, UAVs allow for more accurate artillery fire adjustments and the destruction of enemy targets, and they are also cost-effective.
Yuriy Fedorenko: The army wins the battle. The war is always won by the people, the nation
“The Russian Federation is doing everything possible to separate the military and civilians”
As Fedorenko says, Ukraine has made significant progress in developing FPV drones that can destroy armored vehicles, artillery systems, and even enemy electronic warfare systems. But supporting unmanned systems would be impossible without support from the rear. Fedorenko notes that this is a joint effort.
– I have immense respect for everyone who is part of the Defence Forces. But I have equal respect for the manufacturers who found the courage to jump into the unknown and into communication with the brigade and began to produce the necessary UAV equipment.
Let's be honest, it was private producers who provided such growth dynamics and private investments. I have endless respect for all Ukrainians who remained in our country, who work in their positions, pay taxes, and support the Defense Forces. The army is an integral part of the general society. The army wins the battle. The war is always won by the people, the nation. It cannot be any other way. The front without the rear is impossible, – the commander notes.
He adds that Russia clearly understands how important unity in society is for Ukraine. And it is trying to spread various narratives, to do everything possible and impossible to separate the army and civilians.
– If we now take a leap into history, you will see that Russia has won only when it managed to set the Ukrainians against each other. This is true. And this is happening now, – says Fedorenko.
Therefore, he calls on Ukrainians to follow very closely everything that happens in the state, but to perceive information with a warm heart, but always with a cool head. After all, many information leaks work to the enemy's advantage.
The Achilles commander also spoke about the drone supply. According to him, the supply has improved significantly, but there is still a need for additional components, which forces them to turn to volunteers and citizens for help.
It is important to develop our own components for drones to reduce dependence on imports, especially from countries that may restrict the supply of critical parts.
We will reach parity in drones by the end of this spring.
– We are fighting with the “second army of the world”, with the economic, financial and technical potential of third countries that support the Russian Federation. And compared to this, the state of Ukraine, the Ukrainian nation is doing an unrealistic thing. And probably, the state of Ukraine cannot fully meet all the needs of the defense forces.
We receive 30% of everything needed for the war from donations. 70% from the state. At the beginning of 2024, the statistics were completely different, before it was approximately the opposite.
Therefore, in order to win this war, we must be united and provide maximum resources for the front. That is why, at the beginning of our conversation, I said that the front and the rear are integral parts of one mechanism. One is impossible without the other, – notes Fedorenko.
China is playing a double game with the sole purpose of making money, a military man is convinced
Currently, Ukrainian developers are actively working on improving systems, in particular FPV drones and drones with fiber-optic communication, which allows avoiding enemy electronic warfare. And yet, for now, the enemy has an advantage in the production of some types of drones.
– There is no single means that would be the only alternative, only a set of measures resolves the situation on the contact line. Optical fiber is a drone to which a reel is attached, in which a certain length of cable is laid, through which the control signal is transmitted. It cannot be shot down by electronic warfare.
But additional limitations arise. The first is the range, which is embedded in the coil. The second is maneuverability and plus – additional size, as a result, it is easier to shoot down with small arms. Therefore, conventional drones will not go anywhere. Each drone has its own category of targets for which it will be used, – explains Fedorenko
Despite these challenges, fiber optic drones are already being used extensively on the battlefield and are proving highly effective. Ukrainian developers are working to improve this technology, in particular to create lighter and more compact cables, which will increase the range and effectiveness of such drones.
– Now the enemy has outpaced us in terms of the ability to produce more drones on fiber optics. China is the main manufacturer, as a result they have access to fiber optic cables, so they have increased production faster. But I am convinced that in some areas we will be able to reach parity by the end of this spring, – the commander says.
The regiment commander also notes that China is playing a double game with the sole purpose of making money. According to Fedorenko, for this country it makes no difference to whom to supply spare parts, and in the end it turns out that China sells them to both Ukraine and Russia.
– Ukraine, realizing that the “needle” of China has very serious consequences, should gradually get off it. As a result, Ukrainian companies will start producing a significant number of components for FPV drones, and not import them from China, – the commander adds.
“Sometimes it's better to fly longer than to lose everything later”
Also, during the conversation with Fedorenko, we raised the issue of the safety of the crews operating the drones. The increasing intensity of battles forces FPV drone operators to work closer to the front line, which increases the risks. Therefore, the Achilles Regiment is making efforts to protect the crews, including additional combat security and personnel rotation to reduce the load.
– A number of measures are being implemented to make the distance between the takeoff position and the front line smaller. But if the front line is quite dense, we are forced to maneuver and place personnel in positions that will maximally contribute to preserving life. Because sometimes it is better to fly a little longer, but fly every day, than to risk and then lose everything, – explains Fedorenko.
In 2024, a system of rewards for destroyed enemy equipment was introduced to improve efficiency and create additional incentives for the military. The system provides for the accrual of points for confirmed destruction of targets, which can be exchanged for technical equipment necessary to carry out combat missions.
In addition, for each destroyed unit of armored vehicles or artillery, servicemen receive additional payments. As it turned out, the initiative here was shown by the military themselves.
– Units that effectively carry out combat missions, at some point turned to the General Staff and the relevant ministries: to replenish the losses of equipment and scale up, to teach others, we lack a critical resource.
Let's come up with some kind of system that would provide the opportunity to confirm the destruction of an enemy, receive a certain amount of credit and exchange it for equipment. This was heard by the General Staff and relevant ministries, and as a result, the “E-points” system was formed. There are still many narrow gaps now, but in the end, when all the shortcomings are worked out, this will be a very effective tool, – says Fedorenko.
Due to their high efficiency, UAV crews have become a priority target for the Russians. Therefore, the Achilles Regiment has introduced a comprehensive training program that includes studying the operating principles of drones, tactics for their use, and measures to counter enemy electronic warfare.
Particular attention is paid to training in combat conditions, which allows operators to gain real-world experience and quickly adapt to changing situations on the frontline.
If we are ready for battle in 10 years, the Russians will never come to us militarily, says Yuri
All Ukrainians must undergo military training
As the interlocutor notes, nationwide training is also important for all Ukrainians, regardless of gender.
– If it turns out that I live to see the end of military operations, I will do everything possible and impossible to introduce at the legislative level so that all Ukrainians are subject to military service: both men and women. Military training should begin in school, from the seventh grade, for both boys and girls. Upon reaching adulthood, training on the firing range should be mandatory.
It should be so that without a military registration document it is impossible to open a card, buy a phone, or buy a car. Everyone should have training from the 7th grade to 25 years old – and this is almost 10 years. This person will be highly effective on the battlefield, if circumstances develop in such a way that he has to fight. Believe me, if we are ready for battle in 10 years, they will never resort to military means, – Fedorenko sums up.
At the end of January, the battalion of strike unmanned aerial systems “Achilles” was scaled up into the 429th separate regiment. This was due to the growing needs of the front and the high efficiency of the unit in carrying out combat missions.
The regiment commander notes that the expansion will attract more specialists, improve logistics and significantly increase the scale of operations carried out by drones. In addition, this decision will contribute to the development of new tactical approaches to the use of UAVs in modern warfare.
– During 2024, the battalion became one of the best among the Defense Forces in terms of the effectiveness of destroying the enemy on the battlefield. More than 20 thousand legitimate military targets of the enemy were hit and destroyed, so it was decided to scale it up to a regiment. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity – go to the Achilles website and fill out the questionnaire. Choose the profession that you will best suit – invites Fedorenko.
He adds that the unit is constantly looking for drone pilots, engineers, intelligence operators and other specialists who can contribute to the defense of Ukraine.
Fedorenko emphasizes that every fighter who joins the unit will receive high-quality training, modern equipment and the opportunity to work with the latest technology on the front lines.
“Together we can change the course of the war and ensure victory!” the regiment commander concludes.