# The Dnipro, the impregnable river and military frontier between Ukrainian and Russian forces: ‘We’re in a war of drone pilots’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-dnipro-the-impregnable-river-and-military-frontier-between-ukrainian-and-russian-forces-were-in-a-war-of-drone-pilots/
- Published: 2026-11-06T16:20:58+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T20:11:54+00:00
- Original publisher: El País (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-11-06/the-dnipro-the-impregnable-river-and-military-frontier-between-ukrainian-and-russian-forces-were-in-a-war-of-drone-pilots.html
- Topics: Europe, Russia-Ukraine War, World

## Key points

- Ukrainian marines use drones to contest Russian positions across the Dnipro.
- A Baton attack drone costs about $3,300 to produce.
- The river frontier is both a military barrier and a route towards home.

## Summary

Ukrainian marines are using camera-equipped attack drones to challenge Russian forces across the Dnipro River, which divides the armies in parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Their commander says the conflict has shifted from an infantry war to one fought by drone pilots, making control of the river frontier important to the wider battle.

The 140th Intelligence Battalion operates from concealed positions in Kherson region, flying Baton drones that cost about $3,300 to build. The unit’s commander, known as Snake, and chief pilot Shamil describe the fighting as deeply personal: many in the battalion come from occupied Skadovsk, and Shamil hopes their work may help reclaim it. The article also notes daily Russian drone attacks on civilians around Kherson and the Dnipro’s strategic importance, including its proximity to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.