Djakonda: The Ukrainian Drone Commander

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, I speak with Lieutenant Colonel Andrii “Djakonda” Koval, head of the Unmanned Systems Battalion “Kondor” of the 1st Presidential Operational Brigade Bureviy in the Ukrainian National Guard.

Djakonda and his soldiers are on the cutting edge of modern warfare—fighting with drones and robotic systems that have reshaped the battlefield from the front line to hundreds, even thousands, of kilometres into enemy territory. From reconnaissance and FPV strike drones to robotic ground vehicles delivering supplies and evacuating the wounded, Kondor’s work is redefining how wars are fought.

📌 Support the Kondor Battalion

Djakonda and his unit rely on donations for drones, vehicles, electronics, and supplies. Listeners can support directly by contacting the Kondor Battalion via social media (X, Instagram) to donate equipment or funds.

They are currently in need of a new engine for a pickup truck. Listeners can donate

HERE

We discuss:

• How drones have fundamentally changed the course of the war.
• The integration of AI into military decision-making and what the future of combat looks like.
• The birth and growth of Ukraine’s unmanned systems battalions since 2022.
• Why motivation for Ukrainian soldiers is not a question of morale but of survival.
• Why Djakonda believes Europe must wake up, support Ukraine, and prepare for Putin’s wider ambitions.
• His vision of democracy, freedom, and what’s at stake if Ukraine falls.
• The role of volunteers, donors, and international support in sustaining Ukraine’s fight.

Djakonda also shares his own journey from a student-soldier in 2017, to programmer, and back into uniform as a commander of one of the most innovative battalions in Ukraine’s defence.

This is a first-hand look into the future of warfare and the human determination behind it.

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