April Huggett: Came to Deliver Aid, Stayed to Defend Ukraine. Part 3

When April Huggett first arrived in Ukraine from Canada in 2022, drones were still a secondary threat. Today, they shape every movement on the battlefield.

Now serving as a combat medic with the Alcatraz Battalion of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar," April reflects on how the war has evolved over the past four years — from artillery and trench warfare to fiber-optic drones and robotic systems — and why she believes no army in the world is better prepared for modern warfare than Ukraine.

The Evolution of the Drone War

“In 2022, in Bakhmut, I almost got hit by artillery. I didn't see a drone or hear one because I didn't even know what they sounded like.

By the summer of 2023, we started seeing more drones, mostly reconnaissance drones and fewer FPVs.

By 2024, I was constantly judging the distance between myself and the zero line to estimate whether a Russian FPV drone could reach me. That determined how I worked, how quickly I moved in and out of positions.

By 2024 and into 2025, we saw an explosive increase in the need for REB systems. For those who don't know, REB is an anti-drone electronic warfare system.

Now, by the end of 2025 and into 2026, we're seeing fiber-optic drones being deployed at an unprecedented rate. Drone detectors often can't pick up their signals because they don't emit the frequencies we're used to detecting.

More than ever, you're relying on your ears instead of technology. Especially if you're infantry, the moment you hear something, you hope somebody has a shotgun. Because even with all the other equipment available, your best defense is still simple: hide and shoot. That's it.”

How the Battlefield Has Changed

“When I first came to Ukraine in 2022, people — especially foreigners — used to joke that Ukraine was fighting a trench war. We hadn't seen trench warfare on this scale since World War I. People thought it was outdated.

Now the rest of the world is lagging behind.

The main way you survive in this war is by digging deep and staying underground — in trenches and basements. More and more of the fighting is shifting below ground.

At the same time, everyone is trying to move away from relying on infantry assaults, even though that's extremely difficult. Instead, we're seeing the rapid evolution of robotic systems carrying weapons.

To me, that's incredibly important. I want those systems for my guys. If we can deploy enough of them and reduce the need for soldiers to conduct assaults in the traditional way, we can save lives. Assault troops have one of the deadliest jobs on the battlefield.

The biggest lesson from this war is that, in the beginning, many people believed Ukraine was behind and lacked proper tactics. But in reality, no army in the world is as prepared for modern warfare as Ukraine is.

Not even Russia, despite the fact that it started this war.

You can see that in the way the Russians continue using so-called 'meat assaults' to capture ground — overwhelming positions with manpower instead of relying on sound tactics.”

Why Ground Drones Are a Game Changer

“The First Medical Battalion has one of the coolest systems I've seen: an armored ground drone with what is essentially an armored coffin for casualty evacuation.

It's incredible.

Now evacuations can be carried out without medics having to go all the way to the frontline. We are one of the biggest targets out there.

These drones can also deliver supplies instantly.

I was in position during the winter, and we were stuck without water. When water finally arrived, it was frozen, and we had to thaw it using a diesel heater. Life in a dugout is incredibly hard.

But with a ground drone, you no longer have to risk people driving supplies to the position. You're not putting lives at risk in trucks anymore.

It's a huge difference.

Being able to evacuate wounded soldiers, deliver supplies, ammunition, and additional drones — those supply runs are literally your lifeline.

Ground drones eliminate much of the risk that people used to face while performing those tasks.

The technology has also advanced to the point where these systems can release supplies automatically. If an area is especially dangerous, the drone can drop the cargo and leave, allowing soldiers to retrieve it later when it's safer.”

Drones Save Lives

“Drones are everything.

Ground drones are, in my opinion, one of the most remarkable new technologies on the battlefield.

But it's not just ground drones. Medical supplies can now be delivered by aerial drones as well. Vampire drones have become known for bringing in critically needed equipment and even evacuating animals, including cats.

So yes, drones can kill.

But they are also a lifeline.

They are saving lives at an incredible rate.

Just the ability to evacuate wounded soldiers today compared to even two years ago has dramatically reduced mortality.

The difference is incredible.”

Learn more about the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" on the official website: https://www.93ombr.army

Text: Dmytro Tolkachov

Video: Dmytro Tolkachov, Oleksandr Bekker

Editing: Oleksandr Bekker