Ukraine’s “Peaky Blinders” drone unit is carving a formidable reputation on the frontline near Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. Named after the British gang in a popular television series, this special operations team specialises in dropping bombs from commercial off‑the‑shelf drones rather than relying solely on first‑person view kamikaze drones.
Each morning, the Peaky Blinders prepare their simple yet effective munitions by attaching small explosive charges—known colloquially as “candies”—to consumer models like DJI Mavic. Once armed, pilots launch from concealed positions and fly up to nine kilometres behind enemy lines. Their mission is to find and destroy advancing Russian mechanised units before they reach Ukrainian trenches.
The team’s successes are visible in footage shared on social media. In one recent engagement, members counted 106 Russian combatants stopped over five days, at the cost of around 15 drones lost. This lopsided exchange highlights how Ukraine leverages inexpensive drone systems to save infantry lives. The unit’s commander emphasises that each drone strike prevents needless loss of Ukrainian soldiers and blunts Russia’s attempts to push deeper into Donetsk.
Operating under constant threat from Russian suicide drones and electronic jamming, the Peaky Blinders adapt their tactics to shifting conditions. They alternate between reconnaissance, precision bombing runs and video documentation to prove effectiveness and attract vital donations. Their work continues day and night: by day they halt massed assaults, by night other drone teams equipped with thermal imaging conduct bombing missions.
