Vadym Sukharevsky, the man in charge of Ukraine’s drones
Ukraine hopes its new drone command will help it regain the upper hand

VADYM SUKHAREVSKY IS used to a seat in history’s front row. Ten years ago, in April 2014, his machineguns were the first to fire in Ukraine’s anti-terror operation, as the initial phase of the armed struggle against Russia was known. At the time, Ukraine’s forces were under a strict “no fire” order, even as Russian proxy fighters ran amok in the eastern Ukrainian town of Slovyansk. But the then lieutenant had little hesitation when it became clear that the enemy was preparing an ambush. “See it, shoot it,” he told his soldiers at the time. His fast thinking is credited with saving a dozen lives. The phrase is now embroidered on the gaming chair that swivels at his new command desk.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Robocommander”
Europe July 27th 2024
- The Germany-shaped void at Europe’s heart
- Vadym Sukharevsky, the man in charge of Ukraine’s drones
- Italian right-wingers have renamed Milan’s airport after Silvio Berlusconi
- European countries are banding together on missile defence
- Peter Magyar is reinvigorating Hungary’s struggling opposition
- To understand the perils of AI, look to a Czech novel—from 1936
More from Europe

Russia’s bloody summer offensive is hurting Ukraine
Kremlin troops are making gains in the Donbas region

How much of a difference will Ukraine’s new F-16s make?
Too few to beat Russia’s air force, but a strong symbolic start

Some Germans think the hostage exchange with Russia was a dirty deal
But preserving good relations with America was more important
The deal that freed Evan Gershkovich was more than a prisoner swap
It freed Russian prisoners of conscience as well as Westerners taken hostage by Vladimir Putin
The Olympics are teaching the French to cheer again
France’s politics is a mess, but the games are glorious
Humiliated by Azerbaijan, Armenia tacks towards the West
Courting the EU and America without alienating Russia is a difficult trick