journalism at Arizona state
university.
Host: This week we will mark one
year since Russia's full-scale
invasion of Ukraine with a
series of stories.
Tonight, the drone warrior.
Nick schifrin and our
videographer traveled to
front-line units in donetsk
province and reported on
Ukraine's efforts to modernize a
were often seen to echo from
last century.
Reporter: In the forest outside
bakhmut where two soldiers fight
on their own, the sounds of war
have not changed for centuries.
The Ukrainian soldiers fight
with the weapons of yesterday
and today.
They launch their $10,000
Chinese drone up and over the
trees they use for cover to hunt
for Russian troops.
The 21st century version of
forward observing.
The drone relays the location to
the artillery commander.
Before the war, the pilot was an
engineer.
>> Commander of artillery's sees
the screen also.
They monitor it all the time and
from different angles.
They can direct fast and
quickly.
It takes approximately 3-5
minutes.
Reporter: From the time you spot
them to the time you can fire.
We are about a mile and a half
from the front line and we have
heard distant artillery and
small arms all morning.
And just the two of them operate
completely isolated separated
from their unit.
They call their drone, and angel
in the sky.
On this day the drone filmed as
a Russian helicopter fired on
Ukrainian troops.
He gave us other video from
another battle.
>> They have weapons --
we coordinate.
It is easy to say but a little
bit harder to do.
Reporter: In wars gone by
snipers hunted for other
snipers.
In this war drone pilots hunt
each other.
While you are using drones on
the Russians, are they using
drones on you?
>> Yes, they are looking for us
also.
It is a huge lock if you find
another pilot.
If you are not able to see the
situation, your artillery is not
working.
Reporter: You are blind.
And when you are not flying --
>> We sleep in the bunker.
Reporter: They have been using
this location for months instead
this bunker they happened to
cross.
He shows us some Ukrainian
hospitality things to a butane
stove and some bottled water.
He shows me how Ukrainians try
to detect Russian drones.
The Russians have their own
countermeasures.
>> They shut down the signal.
It is really harmful when you
lose your drone.
You are losing your friend.
You had some connection.
It is like your partner.
Reporter: Some partners have
been around longer than others.
This Ukrainian drone model has
been flying since Russia's
initial 2018 invasion.
It is not as fancy and
specializes in photos but its
operators consider it older and
wiser much like they consider
themselves.
Their unit name loosely
translates to old folkies.
The commander was were tired and
volunteered the day of the
invasion.
>> At the start of the war the
Russians had more you -- more
artillery and drones but now the
balance has changed.
Reporter: The pilot is 51.
He grew up in far western
Ukraine flying model airplanes.
>> Ever since I was six, my
hobby was airplane modeling so
in 2015 when I was called up, I
understood I could contribute
the most by becoming a drone
pilot.
Reporter: They are far from a
main road.
But not from the artillery they
are helping to think.
Each surveillance flight lasts
about an hour.
The only way to know what the
drone has seen is by manually
opening it and removing its
memory card which promptly goes
into the van.
We cannot show the screen but
you are looking through photos
drone has taken to reveal
Russian locations.
What can you do with those
photos?
>> It gives us information of
quantity of military equipment
and type in this gives us the
ability to target with the help
of artillery or take additional
actions.
Reporter: To send their images
they rely on starling owned by
spacex CEO Elon Musk despite
space X's threats to cut them
off.
>> I think Elon Musk is part of
our team.
I don't think he would block it.
We can constantly feel his
support.
Reporter: Does the use of drones
go both ways?
>> We do not see significant
changes and Russian drones
except for the Iranian Shahid's.
Reporter: That is a reference to
the Iranian attack drones.
Alongside Russian missiles it
has challenged Ukraine's air
defenses.
Senior Nadal officials tell us
Ukraine will run out of its air
defense within months.
The west is building a western
only air defense system
including American patriots.
National advanced surface to air
missile system, the same system
that defense Washington as well
as European systems including
from Germany and France.
President zelenskyy said it will
work.
>> I believe that today in terms
of air defense systems we are
probably at the best level since
our Independence.
Reporter: Back in the van near
the front, the team using old
Ukrainian technology believes
the west needs to accelerate its
assistance.
>> It would be nice if Europe
and America would try to help
finish the war as soon as
possible because it is up to
them how quickly we can evict
the invader from our land.
Reporter: They have no faith
that can be accomplished soon so
they prepare for the next
mission and help their comrades
fight a grounding ground war
with their eyes in the sky.
The pbs newshour, I am Nick
schifrin outside bakhmut.