Lower thirds:
00:02 Report by Max Zander
00:36 'Laplace' | Drone Pilot Azov Brigade
01:09 Max Zander | DW Correspondent
01:34 'Laplace' | Drone Pilot Azov Brigade
02:39 'Aristocrat' | Platoon Commander Khartiia Brigade
03:25 'Bolt' | Drone Pilot Khartiia Brigade
03:49 'Ares' | Battalion Commander Khartiia Brigade
04:20 'Ares' | Battalion Commander Khartiia Brigade

Script:
((fiberoptic cable drone FPV footage from military))
Zoning in on the target.
In buildings and out in the open. 
((Asov soldiers in field setting up drone and flying))
Fiberoptic drones are the latest drone development in the arms race between Ukraine and Russia. 
Connected to its operator via a thin, fiber-optic cable, they were first introduced by the Russians a year ago in the Kursk region .
Now Azov and other Ukrainian brigades are flying them too.
There are clear advantages over radio controlled drones. 
0.32 ((starts in off))
+++Laplace, Drone Pilot Azov Brigade+++
“If a radio drone flies over hills or tries to land there, both video and control disappear. This drone will keep showing the picture — no matter the terrain or vegetation.”
0.53
Radio drones can also be jammed, and their video signal can be monitored by the enemy.
Fiberoptic cable drones are regarded as safe … so far. 
But they too have a weak point.
((Max demonstrating cable))
1.07
+++PTC Max Zander, DW Correspondent+++
“So this is the essence of these drones. This is the fiberoptic cable. It’s very hard to spot, extremely durable, like fishing line. But if it gets stuck somewhere, in a tree for example and twisted, it could snap… and the drone loses its connection.”
1.24
And on a sunny day like this, another disadvantage becomes visible.
1.30 ((starts in off))
+++Laplace, Drone Pilot Azov Brigade+++
“When the cable [hangs from] is caught in the trees for example, on weeds in the field, that is, not right next to the ground, then in it's clearly visbile in sunlight, especially at dawn or at sunset, [it is very clearly visible.]”
1.45
And can lead straight back to the operator. 
((burning building filmed by military drone))
This footage shows what can happen. 
A Ukrainian unit was operating drones from a basement before their location was compromised.
The Russians attacked, but no one was hurt.
((Go Pro footage from mission filmed by the soldiers))
Drone pilots ((like Bolt)) know they’re valuable targets.
His brigade too started using fiber optic drones a few months ago.  
2.09
+++SOT ATMO Bolt, Drone Pilot Khartiia Brigade+++ ((filming munition himself, no insert))
“There is also various ammunition. This is for a tank - Kamul PG-7. There are various spools with cable. Right now we are using this small spool, because we don't have to fly that far - 10 kilometers.”
2.29
Setting them up takes more time than radio drones - and means more work. 
But their use has given commanders a fresh look at the battlefield.
2.39
+++Sot Aristocrat, Platoon Commander Khartiia Brigade+++
08:38 “When we started using drones on fiber optics more massively, we found quite interesting points. There were machine gun nests, there were ammunition depots, there were motorcycles that we didn't expect to see there, but they were really close.
2.55
((FPV footage from inside school))
Fibreoptic drones can also fly INTO structures,  an alternative to a dangerous foot search.
3.06
+++SOT Bolt, Drone Pilot Khartiia Brigade+++ ((in Off, NO INSERT))
“And we flew in, flew straight down the corridor, between different offices. And you fly in like that, and there on the walls (you see) the flag of Ukraine, some bunnies painted, bears.”
3.19
A regular drone wouldn’t have revealed how the school is used today..
((on camera))
3.24 
+++SOT Bolt, Drone Pilot Khartiia Brigade+++ 
“It takes a little bit of your soul, with the enemy sitting in this school. 
3.30
+++ATMO+++
((FPV polygon))
Few innovations have transformed the war between Russia and Ukraine as dramatically as drones - which now serve many purposes.
((command post footage))
3:38 
At a command post here in the Kharkiv region, the orders are given to fend off a Russian attack. 
The drones put a distance between them and their enemy. 

3.49

+++SOT Ares, Battalion Commander Khartiia Brigade+++ ((No Insert))
“He's running, running, running. Let's kill that guy on the motorcycle. We'll take him out, kill that guy on the motorcycle.”
3.59
+++ATMO+++
Soldiers on motorbikes are attempting to break through the Ukrainian line of defence.
Small, fast moving assault groups have replaced large armored attacks - in an attempt to avoid detection.
+++ATMO+++
They send in kamikaze drones and heavy bombers. 
+++ATMO+++
Technology is forcing both sides to adapt.
4.20
+++SOT Ares, Battalion Commander Khartiia Brigade+++
“Our goal is to destroy the enemy. For this we need to use everything. We need to be ahead of the enemy in development, to prevail in the latest technologies, to update faster and invent something new, to have a tactical advantage."
[To destroy the enemy, that is our goal. And for this we need to use everything. And first of all, we need to be ahead of the enemy in development. The one who prevails in the latest (technologies), the one who is updated faster, invents something new, improves, has a tactical advantage.”]
4.34
Fiber-optic drones are just the latest innovation on the battlefield. They won’t be the last.
4.47
+++END+++