The drone unit "Bird of Mazhar," renowned for its astonishing lethality and transparent disclosure of kill data, has become an indispensable force in the Russia-Ukraine war. This unit, which rapidly grew from a small platoon in 2022 to a full battalion by the end of 2024 under the legendary commander Robert Brovdi, releases detailed combat statistics videos on their YouTube channel every month, revealing the cruel truth of drone warfare. According to Fox News, these data not only demonstrate how Ukraine is using cheap drones manufactured in Shenzhen to change the battlefield situation but also expose the vulnerability of Russian troops in drone warfare.

Statistics show that in March 2025, the Mazhar Bird Brigade hit a total of 5,334 targets, with 1,848 recorded as completely destroyed. Their drones conducted 11,601 sorties, averaging one target destroyed per 2.2 sorties. These targets included:

Armored vehicles: 274; artillery: 69; trucks and cargo vehicles: 569; infantry: 1,701 people, of whom 1,002 were killed;

Buildings and fortifications: 2,170 hits, but only 125 fully destroyed (6%). Communication and radar systems: 174.

These figures indicate that the focus of cheap drone warfare has shifted from high-value armored targets to infantry and logistics supply lines. Over-the-horizon drones accounted for 67% of attacks, consuming 7,874 drones, while heavy multirotor unmanned bombers accounted for 31%, conducting 3,582 sorties. Open-source intelligence analysts pointed out that the actual lethality of heavy multirotor bombers during nighttime operations may be underestimated, with effects comparable to traditional artillery.

The success of Ukraine's drone warfare is inseparable from Shenzhen's low-cost FPV drones. Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Ivan Havrylyuk revealed that in early 2025, Ukraine produced 200,000 FPV drones per month, with only 4% used by the Mazhar Bird Brigade. These drones are inexpensive yet can accurately strike targets ranging from individual soldiers to armored vehicles. In contrast, each sortie of heavy multirotor unmanned bombers costs approximately $300, still offering excellent cost-effectiveness. Shenzhen's drone supply chain provides Ukraine with an endless stream of "ammunition," leaving the Russian army defenseless.

In addition to over-the-horizon drones, the Ukrainian army has recently been using unmanned bombers similar to Chinese agricultural multirotors. They primarily attack fixed targets such as fortifications or parked vehicles at night, occasionally pursuing mobile targets. They also execute drone-laying missions, placing anti-tank mines along Russian troop paths. Despite Russian attempts to counter with jammers and intercepting drones, the results have been limited. The 52 mini unmanned bombers of the Mazhar Bird were shot down in March, with each average sortie reaching 69 times, showing the inefficiency of Russian defenses. Ukraine is also exploring fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones to further avoid interference.

Data from the Mazhar Bird reveals the tactical dilemmas faced by Russian troops:

Infantry exposure: Frontline troops mainly consist of infantry in trenches, becoming the primary targets of drones. FPV drones can even pursue isolated soldiers.

Logistics vulnerability: Trucks and cargo vehicles are frequently targeted, severely damaging Russian supply lines.

Armor scarcity: Armored vehicles account for only a minority of targets, indicating the rapid consumption rate of Russian heavy equipment.

Artillery shortfall: Although the Mazhar Bird excels at destroying artillery, its kills account for only 1-2% of Ukraine's total, suggesting that other units may dominate in artillery warfare.

Specifically, the Mazhar Bird precisely destroys artillery through the technique of approaching FPV at extremely slow speeds and detonating them on the gun barrels, but their operational area may have fewer artillery pieces or other specialized units responsible for most of the artillery kills.

From 293 targets in March 2024 to 5,334 targets in March 2025, the lethality of the Mazhar Bird increased 18-fold in a year. This is thanks to the surge in Ukrainian drone production—FPV production is expected to double in 2025. Fox News commented that Shenzhen's cheap drones are "deciding the direction of Ukraine's war," as they allow Ukraine to continuously deplete Russian manpower without relying on Western heavy weapons.

Of course, the situation on the Russian side is similar. Fiber-optic-controlled over-the-horizon drones are the main weapon used to blockade Ukrainian supply lines in Kursk, causing heavy losses for the Ukrainian forces.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496801588611187263/

Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's views. Please express your attitude by clicking the 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down' button below.