By Galina Korol | 2025-06-11

KYIV -- In a considerable step toward drone independence, Ukraine has tested seven new reconnaissance drones built to operate in harsh weather and under electronic warfare conditions.

The drones, developed by Ukrainian engineers, are part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on Chinese-made DJI Mavics, which have become omnipresent -- and vulnerable -- on the battlefield.

During a May 30 exhibition, the Ministry of Strategic Industries, together with the Command of the Unmanned Systems Forces, held a demonstration showcasing the capabilities of Ukrainian-made multirotor reconnaissance drones.

Col. Semen Koleynyk, deputy commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, described the demonstration as progress toward drone autonomy.

"Our goal is to have our own seamless drone ecosystem, from training to combat use," he said during the presentation.

'A drone in your pocket'

While technical specifications remain classified, the drones were tested over three days in conditions simulating combat, including electronic jamming, strong winds and rain. The tests focused on maintaining stable connectivity and navigation and surveillance accuracy under duress.

Analysts say Ukraine's drones do not need to replicate DJI Mavics -- they need to surpass them. Tactical reconnaissance drones must operate longer under electronic warfare and meet front-line demands, Anatoliy Khrapchinskiy, a former army officer and deputy director of an electronic warfare tech firm.

"A tactical reconnaissance drone should fit in a soldier's pocket, fly for at least 45 minutes and have a thermal camera and fast connection," he told Kontur. "We shouldn't be talking about the features [of the product] but of the tasks [it can perform]."

Many drone solutions now used at the front line stem from direct dialogue with troops, who shape requirements based on threats like enemy drones or terrain challenges. Developers adapt existing tech or improvise using available components to meet those needs.

"You need to look at this front line like a single unified organism that will be incorporated into any weapons that Ukrainian manufacturers produce," Khrapchinskiy said.

The eyes of the front

Until recently, the DJI Mavic was the most widely used and accessible reconnaissance drone on the Ukrainian front lines.

"The troops embraced it because we didn't have anything else," a drone operator in the Ukrainian army who goes by the call sign Shaman told Kontur.

The Mavic's primary use is aerial reconnaissance and targeting correction, explained Maria Berlinska, a veteran and director of the Victory Drones project.

"Without a doubt, the Mavic is the main supporting drone for our soldiers. It has a range of 5, 10, 12km," she told Kontur.

The Mavic can reach enemy positions up to 9km away with the help of custom antenna modifications, said Shaman. But despite its utility, the Mavic has major drawbacks.

"It can't withstand electronic warfare because it's primarily a civilian drone," Shaman said.

Battery life is another constraint. "It can fly for 35 minutes, or possibly 40. That's very little," he added.

As a result, Mavics are often treated as expendable tools -- critical to operations but frequently lost because of their limitations under combat conditions.

Obstacles from China

China has never officially sold DJI Mavic drones to Ukraine. Instead, Ukrainian volunteers have typically purchased them through third countries, according to observers.

"DJI was willing to ignore that we buy them there in large quantities," Khrapchinskiy said.

But the situation has deteriorated. DJI stopped producing the Mavic 3 earlier this year, leaving only stockpiled units available. Its replacement, the Mavic 4 Pro, introduces new challenges instead of solving old ones.

Switching to the Mavic 4 Pro requires replacing the entire support infrastructure, including remote controls, antennas, batteries, fasteners and software. None of it is interchangeable between the Mavic 3 and Mavic 4 Pro.

Geopolitics have further complicated matters.

"There's a definite strategic framework, and we saw it embodied in Red Square on May 9," Berlinska said, referring to Russia's Victory Day celebrations. "That was the presence of [Chinese President] Xi Jinping, which signaled China's open support for the terrorist state known as Russia."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed this sentiment, telling Bloomberg that China has essentially blocked Ukraine's access to DJI drones while continuing to supply Russia.

"Chinese Mavic is open for Russians but is closed for Ukrainians," Bloomberg quoted him as saying on May 29.

China appears to be limiting shipments of key drone components, like motor magnets, to the West, while increasing deliveries to Russia, Bloomberg reported.

Chinese company officials are even present at Russian production facilities, said Zelenskyy.

These moves directly bolster Russia's drone capabilities and expose China's support for Moscow despite public claims of neutrality, say analysts.

"You could say that China's military-industrial complex is partially working for Russia in this war," Berlinska said.

Drawing conclusions

For Ukraine, the Mavic drone has become a cautionary example of how reliance on even a "neutral" foreign supplier can turn into a strategic liability.

With Chinese supply now restricted, Ukraine must use existing Mavics with extreme care, said Berlinska. That includes managing antenna use and avoiding risky missions. Ukrainians must avoid giving drones "unreasonable commands" to fly "unrealistic distances," she said.

As a short-term alternative, Berlinska suggested switching to Autel drones. But she warned: "The Autel is also a Chinese drone, and we know it can ... be used as an instrument of influence on us in this war."

Most important, she emphasized, Ukraine must prioritize developing its own drones and securing reliable stockpiles. "Develop our own drones and have definite stockpiles and alternatives," she said.

Berlinska encouraged citizens to support the military or take free Victory Drones courses, which teach everything "from how to assemble a drone and fly it to how to build your own drone from scratch."