Russian troops were able to enter Pokrovsk in part thanks to the Rubicon unit, the Financial Times reports, News.bg reports.
This unit uses drones to “hunt“ Ukrainian drone operators.
“It is easy to replace a drone, but it is difficult to replace a drone operator“, Ukrainian operator Dmitry told the publication.
Artyom Karyakin, a Ukrainian soldier serving near Pokrovsk, called “Rubicon“ “ the main problem“ in the battle for the city. “If the Russians did not have such competent operators "Without drones, their infantry wouldn't be able to get into the city," he explained, adding that being a drone operator today is a very dangerous job.
According to Rob Lee of the Institute for International Policy Studies in Philadelphia, Rubicon has about 5,000 employees and a significant financial base. "It's more than just a unit: it's a center for the development of a wide range of drone-related systems," he specified.
The unit develops, analyzes and implements new tactical solutions and procedures, as well as trains operators. The Rubicon Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies was established in 2024 with the goals of training drone specialists, developing and testing new robotic systems, and implementing them in military operations.