The Secret of 'Rubikon': Russia’s Elite Drone Unit Sowing Chaos on the Front Lines

KYIV – As Ukrainian forces struggled to hold their positions in Russia's Kursk region earlier this year, a newly formed and little-known elite drone unit played a decisive role in shifting the battlefield dynamics. Known as 'Rubikon', this unit has become Russia's premier technological force, creating significant problems for Ukraine along the 1,100-kilometre front line.

The unit's impact was starkly evident during the battle for Kursk. After Ukraine's surprise offensive in August 2024, its forces found themselves under immense pressure from Russian units bolstered by North Korean soldiers. 'Rubikon' systematically dismantled Ukrainian positions in the city of Sudzha, striking supply lines and making it difficult for troops to hold their ground. "Russia had several strong drone units in Kursk, but 'Rubikon' was the most important," said Rob Li, a military analyst at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a former U.S. Marine Corps officer. "Because of this, Russia was able to retake almost the entire Kursk region in February and March".

Ukrainian military experts describe 'Rubikon' as a "perfectly managed" and "systemic" force, a stark contrast to the "chaos" often found in Ukraine's own front-line operations. Mariya Berlinska, head of the Centre for Air Reconnaissance Support, a non-governmental organisation supporting Ukraine's military, noted that 'Rubikon' receives significant funding, selects the best personnel, and provides them with top-tier training and resources.

Believed to have been established in the summer of 2024 under the order of the new Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, the unit's official name is the "'Rubikon' - Centre for Prospective Unmanned Systems". It is commanded by 37-year-old Colonel Sergey Budnikov, a former artillery and marine officer. By the spring of 2025, the unit had grown to approximately seven companies, each with 130-150 personnel. It operates as a hybrid organisation, developing new drone technologies, testing new tactics, and training its own operators, with one of its main bases located at the "Patriot Park" Congress and Exhibition Centre.

'Rubikon's' companies are highly specialised, focusing on different aspects of drone warfare, including FPV drones, reconnaissance, heavy-lift drones capable of carrying explosives, and electronic warfare to effectively locate Ukrainian drones and their operators. The unit has been systematically targeting Ukrainian drone operators since February, with one Ukrainian brigade reportedly losing 70% of its operators in a single week.

The unit's effectiveness has earned it a fearsome reputation among Ukrainian soldiers. Colonel-Lieutenant Kyrylo Veres, a Ukrainian drone regiment commander, described 'Rubikon's' operations as "perfect," adding, "They are the best. The top level". Denis Mishchenko, a soldier with the 12th "Azov" Special Forces Brigade, called 'Rubikon' a "very strong enemy that needs to be studied, analysed, and countered". The rise of 'Rubikon' highlights the continuous technological arms race defining the war, where both sides are desperately innovating to gain an edge.