Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by  Max Zander
00:13 Source: 25th Airborne Brigade
00:28 Alchimik | Commander
00:56 Max Zander | DW Correspondent
02:09 Tolik | Commander Drone Team
02:46 Tolik | Commander Drone Team
03:58 Kit | Drone Team

Script:

SOTS IN UKRAINIAN /PTCs ENGLISH

00:00
((drone flying, soldiers around fire))
We’re at a basecamp of the 25th brigade, somewhere in the Donetsk region.
In this rear position, the men prepare for the dangerous task of sending supplies to the frontline.

((UGC burnt cars))
0.13
+++SOURCE INSERT: SOURCE: 25th Airborne Brigade+++
Many troops defending the city of Pokrovsk can no longer be reached by road.

((loading pickup and/or drone bomb video/ drop video))
Heavy-duty drones developed for bombing, are now more often dropping supplies

((alchemist))
0.25
+++SOT Alchimik, Commander+++
“So we have switched to the fact that it is safer to lose a drone than to lose a vehicle, along with the crew that would be making this delivery.”

0.35
((getting into car))
After dark, we head out to meet the delivery team in their position.

((driving))
As we drive, one soldier remains in contact with the unit over the phone.

((PTC car))
0.47
+++PTC Max Zander, DW Correspondent+++
“It’s about 10m 15 kilometers from what we’ve been told, away from the zero line, from where we are going. But nevertheless this area is already in the reach of drones. So that’s the reason why the soldiers here in the car are going as fast as they possibly can.”

1.04
((leaving car))
Moments later

((ATMO BOOM))
A Russian KAMIKAZE drone nearly hits us.
Where there’s one, there are usually more.

((racking shotgun sound))
1.14
+++ATMO shotgun+++

1.18
“Quiet!”

1.20
“It’s flying!”

+++ATMO FPV+++

1.23
+++PTC Max Zander, DW Correspondent+++ ((INSERT VOICE OFF))
“Right now the guys are assessing what to do next. We’re taking shelter, trying to stay concealed. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere. I don’t know where we are actually.”

1.34
The drone flies by a second time.

1.42
+++ATMO+++
“Quick, quick,quick!

1.45
Then we make a run for it.
((arrive at mission site))

And finally we arrive at our destination.
A position in a village house.

Tolik the commander here tells us we were extremely lucky.
((comment by Tolik))

2.08
+++SOT Tolik, Commander Drone Team+++
“It was an enemy drone that was specifically looking for a car. There was a car in front of you, which the drone was following, but it was blinded by the anti-drone system and it crashed. The second FPV [kamikaze drone] came to look for the same car but could have found you. Thank God it didn’t happen.”

2.28
The men work here at night - Kamikaze drones see less in the dark.

((setting up antennas outside))
Using red light makes it harder to be spotted - but everyone here has to move with utmost caution.
It can take time to get used to.

2.43
+++SOT Tolik, Commander Drone Team+++
“The main thing is to understand the full seriousness and, let’s say, not to be too scared, but not to be too overconfident — not to relax the entire time you’re here.”

2.54
((garage))
They prepare the first flight of the night - a delivery of anti personnel mines.
Once everything is in place, they take the drone outside … and it takes off into the night.

((drone taking off in dark))
3.07
+++ATMO Drone taking off+++

3.11
In the basement commander Tolik pilots the drone.
It uses a digital starlink connection which makes it more difficult to jam than radio drones. But it is possible,

3.24
+++ATMO “Archangel, I lost the signal over Pokrovsk.”+++

3.29
Every now and then, the men lose the signal - and sometimes even a drone.

3.34
+++ATMO “Communication lost.”+++

3.35
+++ATMO+++

3.39
((drone drop video))
This time it returns and reaches the drop zone.

((drone landing/guys picking up the drone))
Once the drone is back.

((bring in drone/change batteries))
They bring it in, change the batteries and prepare the next load.
Run after run.
The deliveries are usually only essentials.

3.58
+++SOT Kit, Drone Team+++
“There are dry rations. When the guys need food according to the plan, we send and pack the dry rations there. And right here are boxes of K2s for laying mines.”

4.07
((packing cigarettes))
Cigarettes are also considered critical.
At four in the morning rain has set in, making flying impossible. They abort their missions for tonight.

((atmosphere morning, guys smoking ))
At dawn, the crew finally gets to rest.They take turns sleeping while one remains on watch.

((going back))
Later, when it gets dark, they’ll start again.

4.38
+++END+++