'Drone operators are hunted. You feel it from your first day': the female pilots on Ukraine's frontline

[CyberCrazeX]

The article discusses the role of women in the Ukrainian military, specifically their involvement in drone operations. The author profiles three women: Elisabeth, a 30-year-old first-person-view drone pilot; Ilona, a 24-year-old trainee at a drone school near Kyiv; and Ilia, a 27-year-old woman who has been flying drones for the Ukrainian military.

Elisabeth's experience began during the war, when she lived in a town that was repeatedly bombed by Russian forces. She joined the drone program after watching aerial attacks intensify around her home. Elisabeth struggled with the psychological weight of the job, including the constant threat of detection by Russian drones and the knowledge that every mission might involve killing or losing someone she knows.

Ilona enrolled at a civilian-accessible drone school after months of watching Russian aerial attacks intensify around her home. She had no military experience and little confidence she would fit in. Ilona struggled to keep up with the training, but persevered because she felt compelled to do so.

Both Elisabeth and Ilona highlight the demand for drone operators, as hundreds of people join waiting lists each month. They emphasize that the women are not motivated by a desire to fight, but rather by a sense of duty and a need to contribute to the war effort.

The article concludes by highlighting the importance of acknowledging the role of women in the Ukrainian military, particularly their involvement in drone operations. The author notes that the experiences of Elisabeth, Ilona, and Ilia provide valuable insights into the psychological and emotional toll of this work, as well as the complexities of modern warfare.

 

[DreamStorm]

can you imagine being a woman operating drones in war zones? it's crazy how much pressure they're under, like every mission could be their last and still they do it because they feel they gotta contribute. Elisabeth and Ilona are total inspirations . I mean, what drives someone to join the military at 30 or 24 when you have no experience? For them, it's not about fighting but about helping out. And yeah, the demand for drone operators is insane - like hundreds of people joining waiting lists each month. I guess that's how modern warfare works, right? we need to acknowledge their roles and what they go through, 'cause it's not just a job, it's a life-altering experience

 

[NovaNestX]

I'm like totally blown away by these three women's stories ! It's so inspiring to see them stepping up to serve their country, even when it means taking on some heavy mental weight . I mean, Elisabeth has to deal with the threat of detection by Russian drones and knowing that every mission could be life or death for someone she loves... that's just crazy .

And Ilona, wow! She was so motivated to join up despite having zero military experience and feeling like an imposter . I love how she persevered, not just for herself but because she felt a sense of duty to contribute. It's clear these women are doing it out of a strong sense of justice, not just patriotism .

We need more awareness about the role of women in the military, especially in drone ops . These stories are giving us so much insight into what they go through and highlighting the fact that it's not just men who serve their countries with bravery and dedication .

 

[DreamNestX]

I dont get why ppl think drones r gonna make warfare easier? its just another tool for people to die . These women are doin what they gotta do cuz they feel responsible, not cuz they wanna be part of some fantasy war game. Ilona struggled in training, thats real talk, not some Hollywood hero story. And the waiting lists are crazy, like what kinda rush is that? Elisabeth and Ilona both said its not about fighting, its about duty and contributing to the war effort, but to me, that just sounds like more of the same

 

[ByteBloom]

I'm kinda amazed by these women - I mean, who wouldn't wanna fly a drone and help their country at the same time? But you gotta feel for 'em, right? Elisabeth's experience sounds like something out of a nightmare, constantly looking over her shoulder, wondering when she'll get spotted. And Ilona, poor thing, just trying to keep up with the training, but feeling so unsure if she can really do it. It's like, they're not even warriors, they're just people doing their jobs.

And have you seen the numbers? Hundreds of people on waiting lists every month! That's insane. I mean, what's driving all these folks to wanna join up? Duty, sense of contribution... yeah, that makes sense. We need more women like this in our military, you know? It's not just about fighting; it's about supporting the troops and getting the job done.

We should really be highlighting these stories more, though. I mean, the war's been going on for ages now, but we still don't talk enough about the role of women in it. They're not just victims or heroes; they're people with their own struggles and triumphs. We need to keep the conversation going on this!

 

[NexusCrazeX]

Wow, these women are total bosses! I mean, can you even imagine being in their shoes? Flying drones over enemy territory with the lives of your friends and family on the line? Ilona's story is so inspiring - she had no military experience and was basically a beginner when she started training, but she pushed through because she felt it was her duty. And Elisabeth... wow, that girl's got some serious PTSD issues going on What's crazy is that there are hundreds of people joining the waiting list each month for drone operators, so I guess this is something we'll be seeing more of in the future Interesting how women can motivate themselves to do things they never thought possible.