The commander overseeing Ukraine’s drone operations has stated that the country’s recent strikes in Crimea represent the initial phase of a campaign designed to make the peninsula—illegally annexed by Russia in 2014—unusable as a base for Russian forces. Major Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, one of Ukraine’s most prominent commanders from a new generation of soldiers, said his forces could target 7 times as many military sites in Crimea if the funds pledged by Western allies were received more quickly.
“Crimea falls within the key conceptual pillars on the path to ending the war,” Brovdi told The Associated Press in an interview.
Despite limited resources, Ukraine’s summer campaign in Crimea has inflicted considerable damage by targeting rail bridges, oil depots, and power infrastructure to disrupt supply lines and Russian air defences. Brovdi stated that his forces are only at 14% of the capacity needed for a full-scale campaign. Previously an international grain trader, he joined Ukraine’s territorial defence as a volunteer at the war’s onset and quickly rose to command a highly effective drone brigade before leading Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.
“It’s not that the production capacity of Ukrainian manufacturers doesn’t allow us to make the necessary quantities” of drones, Brovdi said. “It’s the banal problem of untimely financing, which our partners do allocate, but which moves significantly slower than our plans.”
Brovdi’s underground command post resembles a museum, featuring Ukrainian art, including pieces by painter Maria Prymachenko, each with title placards and QR codes for more information. A sign reads, “Please don’t touch the sculpture.” The walls are lined with screens showing live footage from the front lines and real-time data for battlefield decisions, the AP reports.
Soldiers can enjoy good coffee, read books, work out, or rest in sleeping pods, creating a culture akin to a Silicon Valley office rather than a war room. Brovdi, whose call sign “Magyar” reflects his Hungarian roots in Zakarpattia, noted a significant decrease in Russian missile launches from Crimea, attributing this to the destruction of Russian air defences, a claim the Associated Press could not independently verify.
To enable drone strikes without heavy retaliation, Brovdi’s forces have eliminated over 300 air defence assets, including surface-to-air systems and radar stations.
Led Russians out of Crimea
Much of Russia’s Soviet-era air defence relies on the power grid, making Crimea’s electrical infrastructure a common target. This situation leaves Russian soldiers “blind,” depending solely on their small arms. Brovdi has publicly apologised to Ukrainians in Crimea for power disruptions caused by these tactics, which have also affected civilians.
With Starlink connectivity, Ukrainian forces can destroy heavily defended targets using just three drones, selecting different munitions based on the target type. Brovdi stressed that these strikes are carefully calibrated to avoid civilian infrastructure. He believes that making military capabilities unsustainable in Crimea will diminish its strategic value.
Ukraine is also working to limit Crimea’s function as a naval base, which impacts Russia’s presence near NATO. Brovdi noted that about two weeks into the late June offensive, Ukrainian intelligence suggested that Russian forces were ordered to relocate from Crimea and remove secret archives and artworks. The AP could not independently verify these claims.
Threats from Russia
Russia is working to counter Ukraine’s advantages by installing jamming systems to disrupt Starlink connectivity and developing its own satellite communications system. Brovdi warned that this poses a global risk, as a dictatorship could access information worldwide.
Additionally, the concentration of jet-powered Shahed drones has increased significantly, making them harder for Ukraine to intercept. Russia can currently launch 77 ballistic missiles simultaneously, with plans to increase that number to 200. Ukraine is facing shortages of interceptors for the U.S.-made Patriot system, allowing many missiles to hit their targets. Brovdi stated that reducing these threats requires striking missile production facilities deep within Russian territory.
Russia’s Wildberries remains key target
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Wildberries, Russia’s largest online marketplace, often compared to Amazon. Brovdi identified it as a key target, stating, “Wildberries is primarily a supply platform — it acts as the war’s quartermaster,” referencing its section that sells military goods.
The strikes are intended to make ordinary Russians feel the war’s impact directly, in the hope that this will lead to a desire to end the conflict and undermine Russia’s ability to continue fighting.
Brovdi didn’t provide a timeline for the campaign, only noting that strikes will continue “until recovery is impossible.” He described Wildberries as a form of consumer gambling addiction, suggesting that losing access disrupts the personal lives of many Russians.
“It turned out to be a sensitive sensor of the comfort of Russia’s massive population — people who consider themselves completely untouched by the actions of the aggressor country,” he said.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
