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In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, soldiers have adopted a creative strategy to protect themselves from Russian drone operators. Ukrainian troops are constructing fake bunkers using tree branches and other materials to mislead these aerial reconnaissance units that are actively hunting for them. This tactic is especially crucial for Ukraine's drone operators, who have become high-priority targets in the ongoing war.

Dimko Zhluktenko, a drone operator with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, shared insights with Business Insider about this innovative approach to warfare. He noted that it has become standard operating procedure for soldiers to create decoy positions in the tree line. These fake installations are crafted meticulously to ensure they appear as realistic as possible.

You would leave some marks of human life in there, some trash or anything, Zhluktenko explained. Such details increase the likelihood that Russian reconnaissance drones will focus on these decoy positions instead of the real ones.

A still image released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service shows Russian troops preparing their drone for deployment against Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location within Ukraine. This highlights the seriousness of the drone warfare occurring on both sides.

When enemy fire is drawn to these fake bunkers, it acts as a critical warning signal for the Ukrainian soldiers. Zhluktenko emphasized, That would be a signal for you to get the hell out of there as soon as you can. This strategy not only protects their real positions but also provides valuable intelligence about enemy movements.

Another Ukrainian drone operator, who spoke to Business Insider on the condition of anonymity, indicated that creating these fake bunkers is contingent on having enough personnel available to execute the plan effectively. The ability to deceive the enemy is critical as Ukrainian drone operators are frequently targeted by Russian military forces.

To maintain their operational effectiveness, Ukrainian drone operators must remain concealed from both Russian attack drones and reconnaissance units that provide targeting data for artillery and other weaponry. However, they face the challenge of needing to be near the front lines to engage effectively in combat, especially in areas where electronic warfare complicates operations.

The anonymity-seeking drone operator stated that the distance a drone operator can maintain from combat varies based on the terrain. Typically, operators find themselves as close as 0.9 miles from the front lines, where intense fighting often occurs.

As the battlefield becomes increasingly static in many areas, operators frequently take refuge underground. A U.S. veteran currently fighting alongside Ukrainian forces remarked last year that in urban settings, most buildings have been reduced to rubble, making it difficult to find effective cover.

Our somewhat urban environment is all rubble, they said, highlighting the extreme conditions faced by soldiers. Many positions become increasingly vulnerable to enemy artillery, drones, and mortars, deteriorating over time until they are no longer defensible. The veteran noted that Ukrainian positions often get whittled down to next to nothing, rendering them impossible to defend effectively.

Zhluktenko, who is experienced in operating both strike and reconnaissance drones, explained that drone operators often use underground bunkers camouflaged with tree branches to conceal their vital equipment and computers necessary for drone operations. They make concerted efforts to position their drone antennas and launching mechanisms in a manner that disguises them as part of the natural environment.

Throughout the course of the conflict, both Ukrainian and Russian forces have employed various deceptive tactics, utilizing decoys and traps to mislead enemy combatants. Innovations have included cardboard weaponry, inflatable tanks, and even fake trench traps filled with explosives. These tactics have proven essential in safeguarding troops and their equipment from enemy attacks.

While operators strive to remain hidden within bunkers, they often face the necessity of venturing outside to launch their drones. This exposure comes with high risks, as being spotted can lead to immediate retaliation from Russian forces. The operator explained that when Russian troops identify Ukrainian drone operators or their launch stations, those locations quickly become target number one.

He further added that when Russia chooses to attack these positions, it does not hold back. It does not sacrifice anything, he stated, and the assaults can include devastating glide bombs, underscoring the lethal nature of the conflict.

Drones of all types are being utilized more extensively in Russia's invasion of Ukraine than in any previous conflict, resulting in skies filled with various aerial units. Soldiers have often found themselves confused about which drones belong to whom, illustrating the chaotic nature of modern warfare.

Both sides are engaged in a race to produce and develop more drones than the opposition, continuously innovating counter-drone technology to dominate the battlefield. The evolution of drone warfare is rapidly changing the landscape of military strategy in this ongoing conflict.