Rubikon: The Russian Drone Squad Disrupting Ukraine's Aerial Dominance

In the ongoing drone war between Russia and Ukraine, a dramatic reversal has occurred over the past two years. Ukrainian drone pilots, who had previously been able to strike Russian units with near impunity, are now the ones being hunted.

The tormentor is a dynamic new Russian unit known as Rubikon. Using sophisticated tools and its own fleet of hunter drones, Rubikon has been locating, tracking, and killing Ukrainian drone operators before they can launch their attacks. With about 5,000 personnel and vast financial resources, Rubikon has overwhelmed Ukraine's smaller drone units, which struggle to match its relentless 24/7 operations.

Rubikon's success has piled pressure on Ukraine's army, which is already on the back foot against the more numerous and better-funded Russian forces. "If the Russians did not have such competent drone operators, their infantry would not be able to infiltrate the city," said Ukrainian serviceman Artem Kariakin near the frontline town of Pokrovsk.

Beyond just offensive operations, Rubikon also plays a key role in training other Russian drone units, helping to improve their tactics and capabilities. This has further eroded one of Kyiv's biggest tactical advantages on the digital battlefield.

As Rubikon undermines Ukraine's supply chains and drone operations, the country's pilots are now forced to focus their attacks on trying to slow the rapidly advancing Russian soldiers. The drone war has become a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with both sides employing advanced electronic warfare techniques to gain the upper hand.