Ukrainian Drone R&D Commander: $500 Drones vs Million-Dollar Tanks: Inside Ukraine's Frontline Drone War

In this episode of the Restricted Handling Podcast, Ryan speaks with Mike and Dolyna, two Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front lines of the war in Ukraine—where survival depends on speed, adaptability, and constant innovation. 📩 Subscribe for Daily Intel - PDB-Style for FREE at ⁠⁠⁠restrictedhandling.com⁠⁠⁠. Stay ahead of the world's most critical flashpoints with the Restricted Handling Daily Intelligence Brief — a PDB-style summary covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and the Middle East. You'll also get two companion daily podcasts focused exclusively on Russia and China. Delina commands a research and development drone unit, responsible for designing, testing, and deploying FPV, UAV, and signal-support drones directly into live combat. Mike, who once studied abroad in Europe, now operates in a battlespace defined by drones, electronic warfare, and rapid tactical evolution. Together, they offer an unfiltered, first-hand look at how modern warfare is being rewritten in real time. 🕵️‍♂️ Find Glenn Corn Online:⁠ ⁠https://greatsouthbayinc.com/⁠⁠ Former Senior CIA Operations Officer, Member of the Senior Intelligence Service, and Adjunct Professor of Russian/Soviet Studies With 34 years across the CIA, Defense, and State Department, he's served in some of the hardest locations as a multi-time Chief of Station. Today, he advises on global intelligence, risk, and strategic security challenges while teaching at the Institute of World Politics. Find Ryan Fugit Online: Ryan founded Restricted Handling to highlight some of the  authoritarian regimes. Takeaways Delina is involved in drone R&D, focusing on aerial technology. The unit was moved to Zaporizhzhia after defending Kyiv. FPV drone development started in 2023. The unit aims to outperform the enemy in impact. FPV drones can impact targets 35 km away. Delina's team works on manufacturing and IT development. Russian tactics have changed, using fog and small units. Fiber optic cable drones are used in foggy terrains. Maintaining a steady supply of drones is challenging. FPV drones strike targets up to 35 km away. Timeline 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:11 Delina's Role in Drone R&D 00:00:19 Combat Experiences and Unit Movements 00:01:49 FPV Drone Development 00:03:22 Technological Advancements and Challenges 00:03:55 Day-to-Day Operations and Team Structure 00:05:25 Pre-War Backgrounds and Command Selection 00:06:38 Russian Tactics and Adaptations 00:07:38 Drone Technology and Strategic Use 00:08:31 Challenges in Drone Supply and Operations 00:09:38 FPV Drone Capabilities 00:10:37 Morale and Combat Successes 00:11:43 Enemy Countermeasures and Tactical Changes 00:13:06 Russian Production and Adaptation 00:14:27 Social Media and Public Engagement 00:14:56 Future Plans and Post-War Goals 00:16:38 Final Thoughts and Messages to the Audience This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit restrictedhandling.substack.com/subscribe