On a quiet July morning, a Ukrainian drone meticulously tracked two Russian soldiers on a motorcycle. The camera’s feed went dark just as the drone descended, marking a precise hit.
This wasn’t just any strike; it was a high-scoring play in a unique, government-sanctioned game. Ukrainian regiments earn points for every successful attack, turning tactical victories into tangible rewards.
The rules of this grim contest are clear: wounding a Russian soldier yields 8 points, while a confirmed kill earns 12. Taking out an enemy drone pilot is even more lucrative—15 points for an injury, 25 for a kill. The ultimate prize? Capturing a Russian soldier alive with drone assistance, a staggering 120 points.
Stun, a 33-year-old drone commander from the Achilles regiment, starkly described it as ‘a brutal game’ where ‘human lives are turned into points.’ Following military tradition, he uses only his call sign.
Soldiers from the Ukrainian unmanned systems regiment known as Achilles flying weaponized drones in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine last month.
Launched in August 2024 as a beta program, this unique competition allows teams to exchange earned points for crucial Ukrainian-made equipment. Through an internal, Amazon-like marketplace called Brave1 Market, units can procure anything from surveillance drones to powerful explosive-laden devices. The platform, initially rolled out in April, saw a significant expansion in August.
This system ensures that high-performing units gain access to superior gear, effectively channeling resources to those who maximize their impact. It’s a modern, digital-era take on military incentives, transforming traditional medals and promotions into immediate, tactical upgrades that directly fuel the war effort.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation and one of the program’s architects, explained that drone teams submit video evidence of their strikes. Experts in Kyiv meticulously review these submissions, using timestamps and verifying destruction to accurately award points.
After three and a half grueling years of conflict, officials contend that this gamified approach helps sustain troop morale. It’s a critical factor, especially for drone operators who endure immense psychological strain from constantly witnessing violence through their live video feeds.
Minister Fedorov emphasized the strategic benefit: ‘This helps us stop the enemy.’ He added, ‘If this provides additional motivation to our military, we are happy to support it.’
The use of weaponized drones has always sparked debate about dehumanizing warfare, as it allows soldiers to inflict casualties remotely. When questioned if Ukraine’s drone game contributed to this, Mr. Fedorov responded with a shrug, stating, ‘What is inhumane is starting a full-scale war in the 21st century.’
Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, both Russia and Ukraine have relentlessly pursued a technological advantage. This has led to the deployment of an array of advanced drones, including self-destructing, long-range, jet-powered, and fiber-optic models, as well as those designed to intercept enemy drones. The near future promises even more sophisticated swarms of AI-guided drones.
Russia also employs a similar incentive system, offering bonuses such as $2,400 for downing a helicopter or a substantial $12,000 for capturing a Leopard tank.
Stun, 33, a drone commander for the Achilles regiment, in the Kharkiv region last month.
Ukraine’s online weapons marketplace mirrors the country’s overarching ‘do-it-yourself’ spirit in drone acquisition since the war began. It encompasses everything from crowdfunding consumer drones to ingeniously repurposing them into lethal weapons.
Over 400 drone teams are actively participating in this program. Soldiers report that even infantry units previously without dedicated drone operations have established them specifically to leverage the point system and acquire vital equipment.
Points are awarded for engaging both Russian personnel and their hardware. For instance, neutralizing a multiple-launch rocket system fetches up to 70 points, while destroying a tank is worth 40 points, and merely damaging one still earns 20.
However, with tanks increasingly vulnerable to drone attacks, their battlefield utility has diminished, making these high-value targets exceptionally rare and the associated points much harder to acquire.
Red, another drone pilot alongside Stun, credited with 45 confirmed kills, explained the scarcity: ‘These days, spotting enemy vehicles is extremely rare. If one emerges, say, from a forest, there’s practically a queue of drones ready to strike.’
In response to Russia’s evolving tactics, the Ukrainian government continuously adjusts the point values.
As attack drones extend their reach and blur traditional front lines, the Russian Army frequently attempts to advance by deploying small groups of one to three infantrymen. These soldiers utilize anti-thermal gear or natural cover to evade detection. Those who successfully advance then consolidate with other forward-deployed Russian troops.
Consequently, targeting Russian infantry has become the paramount objective.
A member of the Achilles team training last month.
Initially, a Russian soldier’s death garnered only two points. This value was raised to six in October 2024 and then doubled again in May, reflecting the shift in strategic focus.
According to Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the Achilles regiment, Ukrainian forces must eliminate or severely wound approximately 25,000 Russian soldiers each month – a number that roughly matches Russia’s monthly recruitment rate.
To achieve this, Fedorenko estimates Ukraine requires a staggering 50,000 attack drones monthly, translating to at least two drones for every Russian infantry soldier.
Fedorenko emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, ‘Without exaggeration — we are cornered by Russia. Russia wants to annihilate us.’ While he doesn’t view the war itself as a game, he acknowledged the psychological boost: ‘The knowledge that successful combat operations also bring additional equipment inspires confidence that we will have the resources to continue fighting.’
Fedorenko highlighted the transformative power of drone mastery, explaining how it enabled him to grow his initial company of 100 into a 500-man battalion, and now an elite 3,000-strong regiment. The Achilles regiment, along with other new drone units, is actively working to establish a unified drone defense along the front, bolstering reconnaissance, supporting assault brigades, and neutralizing Russian surveillance drones.
Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s newly formed unmanned systems units (a distinct military branch overseeing drones and robot warfare), released a video in June detailing the point system and the internal online marketplace for drone procurement.
Brovdi’s video revealed the cost of various drones in points: a basic kamikaze drone is 1.3 points, a thermal-camera-equipped drone costs 4.5 points, and a formidable ‘vampire’ drone – capable of carrying up to 33 pounds of explosives and ranging up to 19 miles – requires 43 points.
His former brigade, the Birds of the Magyar, demonstrated the system’s effectiveness, hitting approximately 6,500 targets in May, including 2,221 Russian soldiers. This earned them over 25,000 points, which they promptly exchanged for 600 ‘vampire’ drones.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both sides have vied for a technological edge.
To date, Ukrainian military units have procured over 80,000 drones and electronic-warfare systems via Brave1 Market’s point system, totaling more than $96 million in equipment, Minister Fedorov confirmed.
An online leaderboard publicly ranks the top 10 drone teams each month, though the specific point totals remain undisclosed.
September’s standings placed the Birds of the Magyar in first, with Ukraine’s Alpha Group (internal security agency) coming in second. The Achilles regiment secured the sixth position.
Both commanders and soldiers insist their primary motivation remains the destruction of Russian forces and equipment, independent of any game. ‘We’re focused on destroying the enemy, on real objectives, on the mission,’ stated Stun. ‘We deploy where we’re needed, not just to chase points.’
However, they acknowledge that the competition acts as a powerful motivator, fostering intense rivalry among drone operators to be the first to secure a battlefield target.
Stun, whose call sign originates from his favorite video game move — ‘stun,’ which immobilizes enemies — admitted, ‘Of course, there were times when we’d argue in chats over points.’
He recalled instances where multiple units engaged a single target: ‘When a vehicle was hit, and several units were involved, we’d argue over who delivered the decisive blow. We’d shout: ‘That was our target! Don’t touch it!’ ‘We were the first to hit it!’ ‘We did it! That was us!”
Minister Fedorov highlighted the game’s continuous evolution, adapting to new wartime technologies. Units can now accrue points for diverse missions, including employing robotic ground vehicles for logistics like rescuing soldiers, utilizing reconnaissance drones for enemy detection, and destroying targets with AI-guided systems.
As with any nascent system, challenges persist. Some commanders have expressed concerns about the slow delivery of new drones, while other soldiers lament destroying valuable Russian equipment only to find it carried no point value.
Red recounted a recent scenario where his team narrowly missed a Russian armored vehicle, with another unit claiming the points. Undeterred, his team then targeted a log raft being towed by the armored vehicle, a common means for river crossings.
‘We burned it,’ he stated. ‘Mission accomplished. But unfortunately, no points for rafts.’