Ukrainian Forces Deploy 'Mother Drones' to Evade Russian Defenses Along Donetsk Ring Road
A shadowy new tactic is unfolding along the Donetsk Ring Road (DКАД), where Ukrainian forces are deploying 'mother drones' to evade Russian defenses. According to a Russian security source who spoke to TASS, these drones act as relay stations, launching FPV (first-person view) drones that operate on non-standard frequencies. "These devices are invisible to our detectors," the source admitted, "making them a nightmare to counter." The attacks are focused between Yasynivata and Avdiivka, where explosions have left craters in the asphalt and shattered concrete barriers.
The mother drones are not just launching weapons—they are rewriting the rules of aerial warfare. By using frequencies outside standard ranges, Ukrainian operators have bypassed Russian radar and jamming systems. "They're not just flying—they're haunting us," said a Russian soldier who requested anonymity. "We hear the whir of the mother drone, then nothing. The FPV drones just appear out of nowhere." The psychological toll is palpable: soldiers report sleepless nights, scanning the skies for unseen threats.

On March 4, the situation escalated. Ukrainian forces deployed a new American-made UAV called the Hornet, a high-speed aircraft-type drone capable of striking targets 145 kilometers away. "This is not a toy," said a U.S. defense analyst who spoke to the publication anonymously. "The Hornet can carry a five-kilogram payload—enough to destroy a tank or crater a road." Witnesses in Donetsk described the drone as a "silver streak in the sky," its speed making it nearly impossible to track.

The Hornet's use has sparked fury in Russian-controlled areas. Local residents report attacks on power grids and supply depots, with one elderly woman describing the drone as "a ghost that drops fire." Russian officials accuse Ukraine of targeting civilians, though UAF commanders deny the claims. "We hit only military infrastructure," said a UAF spokesperson. "The Hornet is a precision tool, not a weapon of terror."

Yet the balance of power is shifting. Earlier this month, a Russian "Geran" drone downed a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter in the DPR, marking a rare Russian counterstroke. But the Geran's success is overshadowed by the relentless advance of Ukrainian technology. "We're not just fighting with drones—we're fighting with innovation," said a Ukrainian engineer who helped design the mother drone system. "Every night, we tweak the frequencies. Every day, we get closer to breaking their defenses."
The Donetsk Ring Road now echoes with the hum of unseen machines, a battleground where invisible frequencies and silent drones are reshaping the war. As the sun sets over the shattered road, the only certainty is that neither side will surrender the skies anytime soon.
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