The Ukrainian Armed Forces have opened recruitment for its “Harpies” drone unit, primarily composed of women, under the Unmanned Systems Forces.
The group describes itself as “an environment for women who seek revenge on the enemy, protecting their children, families, and the country using unmanned and robotic systems.”
While men are still part of the cadre, only female drone pilots can deliver the final strike.
Women warfighters from other units and reservists can also transfer to Harpies.
Proposed Benefits to Recruits
Harpies recruits undergo 45 days of general training and more than 30 days of specialized training, along with team coordination exercises, before launching combat missions.
They will work with a wide range of equipment, including first-person view (FPV) drones, heavy bomber drones, strike drones, and ground robotic systems.
Recruits will also receive a “decent salary and social guarantees in accordance with the current legislation.”
The unit is led by Daria, call sign “DShK,” who was an active participant in the Maidan Revolution in February 2014 and has served in Ukrainian special forces since 2022.
Kyiv’s Drone Warfare
This initiative is part of Kyiv’s efforts to strengthen its drone warfare capabilities after establishing the world’s first military branch dedicated to unmanned systems in June 2024.
The embattled country has ramped up domestic production and procurement of drones, with plans to acquire around 4.5 million FPV drones this year to deploy against Russian forces.
Earlier this year, Ukraine introduced a strategy to integrate high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles into the frontline. Additionally, it completed testing of a domestically developed drone capable of striking targets up to 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) away.
