A Ukrainian soldier looks at the thermal imaging display on the M2 Browning gun. AP Photo/Marko Ivkov
- Business Insider visited a Ukrainian mobile air defense unit near Kyiv last week.
- The soldiers use truck-mounted machine guns to shoot down Russian drones packed with explosives.
- The Ukrainians said they are fueled by anger at Russia and a desire to protect their country.
KYIV, Ukraine — The moment the air raid warning sounds, signaling a new Russian bombardment, the countdown starts. There are just 15 minutes on the clock.
As quickly as they can, Oleksiy and his team of air defenders scramble out to their firing point, set up their heavy American-made machine guns, and get ready to start shooting down the Russian drones that have caused fear in Ukrainian cities and brought substantial destruction throughout the war.
Once in position, they may be there for only an hour. On other occasions, they may be out for as many as 14 hours, sometimes through the night, waiting to gun down exploding drones. Only when the last one is down do they pack up and call it a night.
Oleksiy is the deputy commander of
a mobile air defense unit with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces. It is tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and civilians in a city on the outskirts of Kyiv, the country's capital city and a frequent target for Russian missile and drone strikes.
Business Insider met with the unit last week and observed how it conducts operations. The soldiers, who asked to be identified by their first names only for security reasons, said their missions are fueled by a fury at Russia and a desire to
protect their homeland.
"We have ordinary people, not professional soldiers, who are united by the defense of their city and the defense of the state," said Oleksiy, who, like others in this story, spoke to BI through a translator.
Ukrainian soldiers take the camouflage wrapping off an M2 Browning machine gun. Jake Epstein/Business Insider
This air defense unit was set up by Oleksandr Markushyn, the mayor of Irpin, a city near Kyiv that saw intense fighting in the early days of the Russian invasion.
The unit's seven members are on and off, reporting for duty early in the morning when their two-day shifts start. Their base has everything they need to rest and train for the missions.
If the
Russians launch an attack, an alarm goes off, sending the soldiers rushing to their trucks. They've got just minutes to get ready for the coming battle.
The soldiers drive pickup trucks equipped with flashing lights to speed through traffic. However, they usually work at night, when there are fewer cars on the road.
At their firing location, which could be in an open field, they remove the camouflage net from the .50 caliber
M2 Browning machine gun mounted in the bed of the truck. The net helps conceal the heavy, American-made weapon and allows the soldiers to transport it safely around the city.
The M2 Browning is a heavy machine gun designed near the end of the First World War that fires .50 caliber bullets. It's been in service since the 1930s and fires hundreds of rounds a minute. Jake Epstein/Business Insider
A Ukrainian soldier looks at the thermal imaging display on the M2 Browning gun. Jake Epstein/Business Insider
The soldiers carry assault rifles, pistols, body armor, radios, and other gear with them. They don't take much else. Sometimes, they drink coffee to stay alert through the long nights or eat a sandwich if they get hungry, but the mission is at the front of their minds, not the food or drink.
"We are more angry than hungry," said one of the unit's soldiers, whose name is also Oleksiy.
The soldiers use a spotlight that shines a bright and powerful beam of light into the night sky to help them spot the Russian drones, specifically the
notorious Shahed-136, which can fly at speeds of over 115 mph and carry an explosive warhead that weighs nearly 90 pounds. They can also observe the drones through a thermal imaging device.
The Russians often
launch their Shaheds at low altitudes to avoid radar detection. This forces the Ukrainian soldiers to rely on visual or acoustic detection; they listen for the drone's engine noise, which sounds like a lawnmower.
"They fly very low, and so we need to watch very carefully," Oleksiy said. "It may be that we can stay in position all night. This happens very often."
Ukrainian air defenders set up their firing position. Jake Epstein/Business Insider
Shaheds are not easy aircraft to shoot down. A bullet can pierce the drone, but unless a critical part is struck, it may keep flying. However, hitting the drone could slow it down and make it easier for another air defense unit in another location to destroy.
Oleksiy said it's frustrating to hit one but not kill it. He said he understands that knocking one down could create debris, but "if the drone reaches where it is aimed, there will probably be even more damage."
He said that scoring a kill against a Shahed will often cause an explosion overhead that they can feel on the ground. "We will feel the shock wave, which can be very dangerous."
Svitlana, who works the spotlight and monitors enemy targets on a tablet, said that the soldiers train with a simulator to use the Browning. In it, they can hone their skills and be ready to engage the drones in real scenarios.
Every night is different. One night, the unit could battle dozens of Shaheds for hours. Other nights might be much quieter. It's tough to know what it'll be like.
A Ukrainian officer shows a thermobaric charge of a downed Shahed drone at an undisclosed location in Ukraine in November. AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky
Ukrainian air defenses intercept a Shahed drone during a Russian attack on Kyiv in September. AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
"When we are just waiting here in the field, we usually discuss some everyday topics, watch, and wait," Svitlana said. "For me, this is my contribution to our safety and our victory."
When the air raid is finally over, the unit returns to base. There, they can replenish ammunition, refuel their trucks with gas, eat, and rest before the inevitable next mission.
And there's always another. Britain's defense ministry
said last month that Russia's drone launch rate of at least 2,000 a month will likely remain the case through the year. But the Ukrainian defenders believe they are up for the task.
Oleksiy, the deputy commander, said half of his group had no prior combat experience before
Russia's full-scale invasion. During their two days off, the soldiers go to their regular jobs; the other Oleksiy is a teacher at a high school, and Svitlana is a teacher's assistant.
"The best part of the job is when there is a result — when air targets are shot down," Oleksiy said. "It means that they did not reach their target and we were able to protect our citizens. They have light, heat, and, most importantly, they are alive."
