Simon Adler, a producer and reporter with a focus on drone warfare, dives into the surprising resilience of Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. He discusses the revolutionary use of commercial drones on the battlefield, transforming them from mere gadgets to critical tools for tactical advantage. The episode explores the emotional dilemmas faced by soldiers seeing their enemies up close, questioning whether this visibility fosters empathy or desensitization. Adler also raises thought-provoking concerns about the future of autonomous drones in warfare.
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Civilian Drone Development
In 2014-2015, after Russia seized Crimea, Ukrainian civilians began developing short-range drones.
This grassroots effort aimed to address the Ukrainian military's lack of aerial coverage.
insights INSIGHT
Intimacy of Drone Warfare
Unlike past wars, drone footage provides constant visibility of the enemy.
This intimate view of enemy soldiers' daily lives and vulnerabilities may be changing the emotional landscape of war.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Moment of Grieving
A drone captured footage of a Russian soldier grieving over a dead comrade after a Ukrainian artillery strike.
Notably, Ukrainian forces held their fire, allowing the soldier to mourn and collect personal effects.
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Back in February of 2022, anyone who knew anything thought the War in Ukraine would be over in a few weeks. Russia simply had more bodies to fight with and more steel to kill with.Fast-forward to today, however, and the war is anything but over. Ukraine has held and regained territory with shocking resilience. Stranger still, a small, cheap gadget that up until now was little more than a toy, has been central to their success.Today on Radiolab, we track the deployment of this weapon and wonder what happens when you have to look your enemy in the eye before you pull the trigger. Special thanks to Anna Kaliusna and her team for her footage from the frontline, Yulia Tarisuk for her help with all things Ukrainian language related. And Hanna Rose Shell for her helping us understand the history of camouflage.
EPISODE CREDITS:Reported by - Simon AdlerProduced by - Simon AdlerOriginal music and sound design contributed by - Simon Adler and Jeremy Bloomwith mixing by - Jeremy BloomFact-checking by - Natalie Middletonand Edited by - Becca Bressler
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