From now on, Ukrainian soldiers will receive double points for eliminating a drone operator, confirmed in the DELTA system, compared to striking a regular infantry soldier, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
Destroying Russian UAV operators before drone deployment has been identified as a key priority of the “Drone Army. Bonus” program.
Accumulated points can be exchanged for Ukrainian drones, electronic warfare equipment, ground robotic systems, and components for them. The main goal of the changes is to minimize the time an enemy operator spends on the battlefield.
Specialized units are being formed to detect and eliminate enemy UAV pilots.
Updated target category: “UAV crew” becomes priority
The program has also updated rules for reconnaissance missions. A new target category has appeared — “UAV crew”, for which the restriction on distance from the frontline has been removed.
This emphasizes the high priority of such targets, regardless of location.
“Reconnaissance of UAV crews has received increased priority in the incentive system,” the ministry reports.
How the program works: points for actions
The “Drone Army. Bonus” program is a motivational initiative that equips the Defense Forces through the DELTA system.
Soldiers earn points for:
- striking enemy targets,
- reconnaissance,
- logistics operations,
- mine-laying and evacuation.
After accumulating points, they can be exchanged for necessary weapons via the Brave1 Market platform. The supply process is implemented by the Defense Procurement Agency (DOT) through the DOT-Chain Defense system.
It manages contracts with manufacturers and coordinates direct delivery of drones and other equipment to units.
Thanks to this, the average time from order to equipment receipt is about 10 days.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies "Rubicon" claimed that it greatly increased the number of Ukrainian targets it struck in March 2026, compared to the previous month, as well as March 2025.
Rubicon has approximately 5,000 personnel and significant financial resources. Its objectives include disrupting Ukrainian logistics, neutralizing UAV command teams, and training other Russian units.
