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ADAPTIVE INDOMITABLE UKRAINE's Fiery "Disco Nights" Drone. Meet the "Sych". [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-04-03

I wouldn’t blame you if upon seeing the title of this diary you say to yourself … “another Ukrainian drone?”. Yep, the ever-burgeoning Ukrainian drone technology space is increasingly producing highly specialized and technologically advance drones … purposed and outfitted for very discrete functions on the battlefield. There are the now ever-present kamikaze FPV drones in use by both sides. But Ukraine is now moving on to “specialist drones”…. such as the “Sych”.

Unlike other drones Ukraine has introduced so far, the development of the “Sych” has been shrouded in a bit of secrecy and ambiguity even though it had been known for over a year that Ukraine was working on it, its “classified” designation notwithstanding. But its peculiar attributes as to what it does were not really defined in the public space ...making it seem like “just another drone”. And apparently there was a good reason to withhold such information because Ukraine has already been using it quite effectively in its effort to fracture and hobble Russian logistics as well as rear command and control assets whenever the Russians place them closer to the front lines and within range of the “sych”. The range is still deliberately kept ambiguous … from 50km to 200km based on load and assignment.

And here the “Sych” is in a class by itself. Whilst other Ukrainian airborne assets(the U.S. supplied JDAM, etc) and drones perform similar tasks in the day time, the “Sych” comes into its own at night. Hence its nick name “Disco Nights”:

Reliable and deadly weapon: What is Sych UAV, which brings "fiery disco" to Russians at night Unlike 'kamikaze' drones, the Sych is a reusable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). One of its significant advantages is its ability to operate at night. It is likely that this capability is why the system was named after a nocturnal predator. "It’s as simple, convenient, reliable, and fail-proof as possible. The Sych drones operate effectively. Compared to other systems, the losses are minimal," said the operator with the call sign Crouch. If an operational group receives satellite images and decides to strike with the Sych, they load the drone with ammunition and send it along a pre-determined route. The Sych can carry various types of munitions, including fragmentation, high-explosive, or shaped charges. The UAV flies autonomously, unlike some foreign analogs that rely on radio control. The autonomous flight mode allows the crew to safely retreat from the launch position and avoid unnecessary exposure to danger. global.espreso.tv/…

The Defence Intelligence Services of Ukraine describe their new toy as :

The DIU "Sych" strike drones destroy muscovites military targets April 1, 2025 Thanks to the "Sych" strike-reconnaissance drones, the DIU warriors regularly turn muscovites nights into fiery "discos." gur.gov.ua/...

Defense Express also has this to say about the “Sych”:

Ukraine’s Sych Drones Execute Precision Strikes on Russian Military Targets(video): Advanced reconnaissance and targeting enhance precision strike capabilities The warriors of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine continue to deliver devastating blows to russian forces using the Sych strike-reconnaissance drones. These precision strikes, carried out by the Partisan group, turn enemy nights into fiery spectacles, systematically dismantling russian military infrastructure. A newly released video highlights another wave of successful attacks, showcasing the destruction of enemy field command posts, ammunition depots, camouflaged equipment, transport, and concentrations of russian troops. These strikes not only cripple logistical and operational capabilities but also spread chaos and fear among the occupiers.(emphasis mine) en.defence-ua.com/…

But perhaps most critically, as the Espreso Global article indicates, the “Sych” serves as a pathfinder … clearing the way for other Ukrainian assets and munitions to get in and do even more damage:

"By destroying radar stations and air defense systems, it essentially clears the way for other strike weapons – kamikaze drones, thus creating a 'corridor.' Once we have confirmed a hit, we know that air defense in that area won't be restored for the next 3-4 days. We then use these corridors," explained Berserk.

The “Sych”. The Ukrainians did not choose the name lightly. The name harkens back to their Cossack ancestors and their fight to keep their land away from the long line of interlopers who have come. And gone.

ADAPTIVE INDOMITABLE UKRAINE. There’s noise being bruited about that Putin and Russia are planning to roll out another massive offensive in the next few weeks. The “Sych” and likely other as yet unknown Ukrainian drones and weapon systems will be waiting. Ukraine and Europe will stand.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/3/2314415/-ADAPTIVE-INDOMITABLE-UKRAINE-s-Fiery-Disco-Nights-Drone-Meet-the-Sych?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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