On 29–30 September, Bukovyna hosted the fifth military sports competition “Wild Drones” among combat UAV crews of the Defence Forces of Ukraine. The organisers said this in a press release.
Twenty teams took part: 17 teams from combat units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine and three teams from training centres that train UAV operators. Participants included representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Most service members arrived at the competition directly from areas where they were carrying out combat missions. The training centres competed for top honours in a separate category.
This time, “Wild Drones” was held under conditions of absolute secrecy with enhanced security measures. Over two days, participants competed in operating Shrike FPV drones, heavy Vampire bombers (“Baba Yaga”) and DJI Mavic quadcopters. The disciplines were built on the real combat experience of Ukrainian UAV operators and modelled the tasks service members carry out on the front line every day.
The organisers note that the main aim of “Wild Drones” is the psychological recovery and rehabilitation of service members through participation in military sports competitions. At the same time, the event serves as a platform for professional exchange of combat experience between UAV operators from different units and manufacturers.
These competitions became the second qualifying stage of the 2026 “Wild Drones” season. As a result, another ten best teams of the season were selected. The strongest participants from the qualifying stages will go on to meet in the final, where the winners of the 2026 season will be determined.
In the FPV discipline, first place went to the 421st Separate Unmanned Systems Battalion of the Air Assault Forces, “Sapsan”. The winners received three Vampire systems.
Second place went to the “Combat Hawks” Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 25th Airborne Brigade. The team received two Vampire systems.
Third place went to the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade, “Achilles”. The prize was one Vampire system.
In the team standings—a combined discipline involving tasks on DJI Mavic, Shrike FPV drones and heavy Vampire bombers—first place went to the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade, “Achilles”. The team received a mobile UAV command post from Thorʼs Haven, as well as an 800,000 UAH subsidy from the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration.
Second place went to the 5th Border Detachment, “Prime”. The team received a certificate for 500,000 UAH from VYRIY and a 500,000 UAH subsidy from the local military administration.
Third place was taken by the 36th Separate Marine Brigade, the Unmanned Systems Battalion “Guardians”. The team received a certificate for 500,000 UAH from one of the competition’s partners, as well as a 300,000 UAH subsidy from the Regional Military Administration.
As a reminder, during the “Wild Drones” event, the Ukrainian company Thorʼs Haven presented a series of mobile modular solutions for setting up command, medical and stabilisation points directly in field conditions.
During the competition, they also presented the “Wild Family”—an ecosystem of military sports projects that brings together the UAV operator competition “Wild Drones”, the military sports competition “Wild Race”, as well as a future new direction, “Wild UGVs”, dedicated to ground robotic systems.