‘Drone operators are hunted. You feel it from your first day’: the female pilots on Ukraine’s frontline

<p>As casualties mount, recruitment is expanding. Three women talk about why they signed up for a brutal combat environment</p><p>Women have been involved in Ukraine’s drone operations since the early months of the full-scale invasion, but as shortages in the military increase their presence has grown, particularly in FPV (first-person-view) attack units.</p><p>Casualty figures are not disclosed but widely understood to be high, and Ukraine is becoming reliant on civilians to fill roles that once belonged to trained military personnel. A short but intensive 15-day course is given to a trainee operator for frontline deployment, a turnaround that reflects the urgent need.</p><p>Indoor and outdoor training courses set up for trainee pilots at a drone school</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/26/women-flying-drones-ukraine-frontline-casualties-recruitment-combat">Continue reading...</a>