Trained as an architect, now he demolishes invaders

What does it take to plan and coordinate every drone mission in a brigade, day after day? For this episode of Defence Forward, we travelled to an underground location around 30 km from the Russian border to sit down with “Puer”, who plans and controls UAV operations at brigade headquarters in Ukraine’s 2nd Corps Khartiia, one of Ukraine’s most advanced and widely respected formations.Before the war, Puer was an architect, interior designer and project manager working with British companies. In the army he worked through every position in an FPV crew, as reconnaissance drone operator, spotter and strike drone pilot, flying FPV, Mavic and Vampire drones. Today he oversees the planning, supply and coordination of UAV missions across all units in his brigade.In this conversation we cover:🔹 Life in an FPV crew, with up to 25 strike missions a day🔹 Why tanks now take many drones to stop🔹 How missions are queued and coordinated across units🔹 Planning UAV operations at brigade level without micromanaging🔹 After-action reviews: finding out what went wrong and fixing it🔹 An expanding kill zone where there is no longer a yellow zone🔹 Month-long rotations and 10 km walks to and from positions🔹 Heavy bomber drones as a logistics lifeline🔹 Matching crews to tasks based on skill and talent🔹 How new products are tested, and Ukrainian vs Western manufacturers🔹 AI terminal guidance and the move towards full autonomy🔹 Life after the war, and the need for a long breakHow to support👉 Subscribe and like to help us bring frontline insights from Ukraine to more people.Join our UAH 30 million fundraiser with 2nd Corps Khartiia for unmanned systems Khartiia Corps Instagram: Lava Regiment Instagram: Lava Regiment website: Lava support subscription: Defence Forward is hosted by Jonathan Winch (Cylindr Defence, Copenhagen) and Dan Kucherenko (Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, Kyiv), and produced by David Hoskin of Cylindr Defence.#DefenceForward #Khartiia #Ukraine #UAV #FPV #Drones #DefenceTech #Autonomy

Strike drones are going jet-powered. Above 200 km/h, no human can fly them. And when both sides have the same technology, the side that decides faster wins. "Marine", commander of a Ukrainian unmanned systems regiment, on the robot war that’s already here.Before the full-scale invasion he ran his own company with 60 employees and was training for an Ironman. He joined the army on day one, spent a year and a half in the trenches, served three years with the Marines, and now leads his regiment in the National Guard’s 2nd Corps.His unit runs less like a military formation and more like a tech company: in-house labs, 3D printing, its own electronics, and ideas that can go from the workshop to the test range at night and onto the battlefield the next day.We talk about:→ Why his unit builds and upgrades its own systems, and how a plug-and-play control box cut UGV preparation from three or four days to one.→ What a mid-strike mission looks like from planning to impact, including simulators that replicate the real terrain, and the trick to hitting a fast-moving target: slow it down first.→ Why speed is changing everything, and why autonomy is no longer optional.→ How fibre-optic drones ended the era when jamming plus armour kept you safe, and what Ukraine should expect from Russia in 2027: jet engines, Starlink jamming, their own satellite alternative, and mass mobilisation.→ Why decision dominance matters when both sides share the same technology, and how AI has cut his reporting from a week to ten minutes.→ The tempo gap between Ukraine and Europe. As he puts it: “On Monday it’s like for us the whole month.”Thanks to Marine for taking the time and, as always, to my co-host Dan Kucherenko from Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation for a great discussion. And to our colleague and producer, David Hoskin, for making it all come together.Remember to like and subscribe – and help to support our podcast!And please, make even a small contribution to Ukraine’s war effort at Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation!#DefenceForward #Ukraine #UnmannedSystems #DefenceTech #EuropeanSecurity

In Ukraine, units no longer just ask for equipment. They earn it. Confirmed results on the battlefield turn into e-points, and brigades spend those points directly on Brave1 Market, Ukraine’s Amazon-like miltech marketplace. The system keeps changing as the war changes, and that ability to adapt quickly is an advantage in itself. In this episode of Defence Forward, Dan Kucherenko and Jonathan Winch talk with Juliya Myrna, Project Lead for Brave1 Market, about how the marketplace works from the inside and why it was built the way it was.Brave1 Market: https://market-brave1.delta.mil.gov.ua/en We cover:→ How e-points link frontline performance to procurement, and why the incentive model keeps evolving→ How a brigade’s request becomes a competitive, auction-style match with manufacturers→ Why Brave1 steps out once a match is made, leaving the brigade and manufacturer to deal directly→ Why decentralised supply means every brigade keeps its own contract, and why moving contracting onto the platform would make the process slower, not faster→ What manufacturers, including foreign companies, need to understand to compete on the platform The idea at the centre of the conversation: in a war of rapid adaptation, how equipment gets bought matters as much as what gets built. Support Ukraine’s defenders through the Prytula Foundation — https://prytulafoundation.org/en Defence Forward is produced by Cylindr Defence in partnership with the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation. Guest:► Yuliia Myrna — https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliia-myrna-691118196/Hosted by:► Dan Kucherenko — https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kucherenko-aba949216/► Jonathan Winch — https://www.linkedin.com/in/winch/Produced by:► David Hoskin — https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhoskin/Links: ► Defence Forward: https://linktr.ee/defenceforwardpodcast► ⁠⁠Cylindr Defence⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://cylindrdefence.com/

Jackie, a former US Army scout who now instructs corps personnel in Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps, returns to Defence Forward to explain why two cities in Donetsk oblast may decide how this war ends, and how Ukraine lives with the outcome.Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the "fortress belt", are the last major piece of the Kremlin's stated objectives in Donetsk. Whoever holds them controls the routes beyond. Jackie explains why the ground war has become the most important part of the fight right now, and why it gets so little attention outside Ukraine.In this episode:Why the fortress belt matters, and what a Russian victory claim would mean with or without itLoss ratio, not territory, as the measure that matters for an outnumbered army Drones as common as rifles at squad level"Blue army" mission command versus "red army" Soviet-style commandWhat Afghanistan, Vietnam and the US Civil War teach about post-war narrative and veteransWhat Jackie plans to do when the war endsGuest: Jackie (his callsign), 3rd Army Corps, ArmedForces of Ukraine. Former US Army scout with service in Iraq and Afghanistan;International Legion veteran of Kyiv, Kupiansk and Bakhmut.Hosts: Jonathan Winch (Cylindr Defence, Copenhagen) and Dan Kucherenko (SerhiyPrytula Charity Foundation, Kyiv)Producer: David Hoskin (Cylindr Defence, Copenhagen)Like and subscribe for more conversations on battlefield technology, operational realities and the people fighting Russia's war against Ukraine.#DefenceForward #Ukraine #MilitaryStrategy

An American assault instructor in Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps says the NATO bases he has visited would be finished in the first eight hours. Jackie — a callsign, not a name — explains why the wedge formation is dead, why every Ukrainian infantryman now carries signals kit, and why Ukraine's doctrine has abolished the ground force commander.More: "They're so abysmally unprepared that I'm afraid for them." That is an American professional soldier describing NATO bases he has trained on, on a podcast whose audience largely works for NATO countries.Jackie is a callsign. He spent eight years in the US Army as a scout, deployed seven times, and crossed into Ukraine at Medyka in March 2022 to join the International Legion. He was badly wounded in Kyiv inside three weeks, went back to fight at Kupiansk and Bakhmut, and now instructs corps staff in Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps.He is precise about what four years changed. Direct-fire security sectors are irrelevant against an enemy with permanent fire superiority, so the wedge formation is gone and everything moves in files. Concealment, not firepower, is the organising principle at every echelon — in his phrase, every Ukrainian infantryman is half a sniper. Signals-intelligence receivers are carried by ordinary riflemen rather than by specialists. And the ground force commander, a position American doctrine treats as indispensable, no longer exists in his corps: jamming would leave that man mute for the whole battle, so the decision sits with a battle captain at a networked command post instead.The hardest reform, he argues, is not tactical at all. It is getting soldiers to tell their commanders the truth.More about Defence Forward Podcast

Jonathan Winch interviews his co-host Dan Kucherenko about the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation — one of Ukraine's largest wartime organisations, funded entirely by ordinary people.The Foundation does something charities elsewhere in Europe do not do. It has no engineers, but it does have a military department in daily contact with soldiers at the front. Using that data, it worked with a Ukrainian manufacturer on a drone built to intercept Russian reconnaissance UAVs — advising on the speed and altitude it needed to match, and on communications that would still work in a GPS-denied environment. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence went on to rate the result the most effective drone of its kind in 2025.Dan also explains how military equipment is actually procured in Ukraine. There are three routes: centralised Ministry of Defence contracts, decentralised purchasing where individual units buy direct from manufacturers, and donations through organisations like his own. He explains why the third route is usually where new technology gets proved first — and how the Foundation came to buy Ukraine a satellite. Dan Kucherenko leads international partnerships at the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation in Kyiv — one of Ukraine's largest wartime organisations, with 120+ staff across five legal entities, working with more than 800 military units. He co-hosts Defence Forward.► Support Ukraine with the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation

In this episode, Yehor Molochkov of the 69th Separate Special Electronic Support Center of the Ukrainian Armed Forces shares insights into the evolving role of electronic warfare (EW) in Ukraine's defence strategy, the technological challenges faced, and the innovative solutions being developed to counter modern threats like drones and mesh networks.Key topics:- The role of EW in modern warfare and Ukraine's strategic approach- Technological challenges in countering drones and mesh networks- Innovative software and hardware solutions developed by Ukraine- Coordination and integration of EW units across Ukrainian defense forces- The evolution of EW capabilities from 2022 to present- The importance of automation and AI in EW operations- Challenges with equipment interoperability and manufacturer collaboration- The impact of EW on battlefield tactics and civilian safety► Learn more about Ukraine's Electronic Warfare Forces ()► Contact Electronic Warfare Forces, [email protected]► Support Ukraine through the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation⁠ ► Production thanks to ⁠⁠⁠cylindr Defence⁠⁠⁠ 📡 Discover more about Defence Forward Podcast

In this episode, we dive into Mykyta Puz’s journey fromcivilian tech entrepreneur to military technology scout and Azov battalion member. He shares how innovation, grassroots fundraising, and volunteer logistics are helping strengthen Ukraine’s defence efforts amid the ongoing conflict.Main Topics:- Mykyta Puz’s transition from civilian tech to military service- Innovative fundraising and logistics for Ukraine’s military- The role of bottom-up decision-making in Azov- Personal stories of Ukrainian resilience and adaptation- The impact of civilian initiatives on military support- How technology and volunteer efforts are shaping defence efforts- Creative fundraising approaches, including the Maserati raffle- The importance of individual initiative in wartime support► ⁠AZOV One⁠► ⁠Follow Defence Forward Podcast⁠► Support Ukraine through the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation⁠► Production thanks to ⁠⁠⁠cylindr Defence⁠⁠⁠ #DefenceTech #DroneWarfare #UkraineWar #MilitaryTechnology #UnmannedSystems #ModernWarfare #warinukraine2026

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Anton Sukach, Ukrainian defence veteran and business developer at Global Mark, who shares raw experiences from the front lines, insights into modern warfare tech, and the resilience of Ukraine amidst ongoing conflict. Discover how innovative defence solutions like FPV (first-person view) drones, electronic warfare systems, and autonomous underwater vehicles are shaping the future of warfare.In this episode:Anton discusses the emotional toll and realities of war from a soldier’s perspective Insights into friendly fire incidents and the psychological impacts of battlefield decisions The evolution of drone technology and the role of FPV and fiberoptic drones in Ukraine’s defence The development and testing of autonomous underwater vehicles with ranges up to 1000 km Ukraine’s resilience and the importance of international support and technology adaptation amid ongoing conflict The strategic role of electronic warfare, AI, and new defence innovations against Russian advances Anton shares his personal journey from civilian to soldier and experience working with Ukrainian military projects The challenges in defence procurement and the rapid pace of innovation in Ukraine compared to NATO standards Special thanks for the ongoing bravery and innovation from the Ukrainian forces and their defenders.Stay tuned for more stories of courage, technology, and resilience.Learn more about Global Mark. Follow Anton on LinkedIn.Follow Defence Forward Podcast.

In this episode, we explore the critical role of drone warfare in Ukraine's ongoing defense efforts, featuring an interview with Lito, a commanding officer of an FPV drone platoon within the National Guard. Discover how Ukraine trains civilian pilots, the evolution of drone tactics, and the significance of operations like those in the Serebryansky Forest. We also delve into technological breakthroughs such as fiber optic drones and the importance of interoperability, shedding light on the frontline realities of modern warfare.Main Topics:The role and operational scope of Ukraine’s UAV units across the front linesTransition from civilian to military drone pilot: skills, challenges, and training processesKey battles and training ground: the strategic importance of the Serebryansky ForestInnovations in drone technology: fiber optics, digital systems, and future prospects like drone swarmsCoordinating drone operations within a broader combined arms strategyThe underestimated impact of drone warfare on battlefield outcomes and Western responsesLessons learned and future improvements for Ukraine’s drone capabilitiesThis episode offers an authentic frontline perspective that underscores the importance of innovation, adaptability, and resilience in Ukraine’s ongoing defense. The insights presented are vital for understanding modern drone warfare’s strategic and operational dimensions.More about Defence Forward Podcast: https://linktr.ee/defenceforwardpodcast