In this episode of the Restricted Handling Podcast, Ryan speaks with Mike and Dolyna, two Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front lines of the war in Ukraine—where survival depends on speed, adaptability, and constant innovation.

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Delina commands a research and development drone unit, responsible for designing, testing, and deploying FPV, UAV, and signal-support drones directly into live combat. Mike, who once studied abroad in Europe, now operates in a battlespace defined by drones, electronic warfare, and rapid tactical evolution. Together, they offer an unfiltered, first-hand look at how modern warfare is being rewritten in real time.

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• Former Senior CIA Operations Officer, Member of the Senior Intelligence Service, and Adjunct Professor of Russian/Soviet Studies

• With 34 years across the CIA, Defense, and State Department, he's served in some of the hardest locations as a multi-time Chief of Station.

• Today, he advises on global intelligence, risk, and strategic security challenges while teaching at the Institute of World Politics.

Find Ryan Fugit Online: Ryan founded Restricted Handling to highlight some of the authoritarian regimes.

Takeaways

• Delina is involved in drone R&D, focusing on aerial technology.
• The unit was moved to Zaporizhzhia after defending Kyiv.
• FPV drone development started in 2023.
• The unit aims to outperform the enemy in impact.
• FPV drones can impact targets 35 km away.
• Delina's team works on manufacturing and IT development.
• Russian tactics have changed, using fog and small units.
• Fiber optic cable drones are used in foggy terrains.
• Maintaining a steady supply of drones is challenging.
• FPV drones strike targets up to 35 km away.

Timeline

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:00:11 Delina's Role in Drone R&D
• 00:00:19 Combat Experiences and Unit Movements
• 00:01:49 FPV Drone Development
• 00:03:22 Technological Advancements and Challenges
• 00:03:55 Day-to-Day Operations and Team Structure
• 00:05:25 Pre-War Backgrounds and Command Selection
• 00:06:38 Russian Tactics and Adaptations
• 00:07:38 Drone Technology and Strategic Use
• 00:08:31 Challenges in Drone Supply and Operations
• 00:09:38 FPV Drone Capabilities
• 00:10:37 Morale and Combat Successes
• 00:11:43 Enemy Countermeasures and Tactical Changes
• 00:13:06 Russian Production and Adaptation
• 00:14:27 Social Media and Public Engagement
• 00:14:56 Future Plans and Post-War Goals
• 00:16:38 Final Thoughts and Messages to the Audience

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