Armoring the 'Kozak': How Ukraine's 81st Brigade Shields Vehicles from Kamikaze Drones.

Reinforcing Armored 'Kozak' Vehicles

According to TSN.ua: Serhiy 'Vovk', a platoon commander in the technical support unit of the 81st Airmobile Brigade, details the process of welding additional armor onto 'Kozak' armored vehicles to better defend against kamikaze drones, while also sharing his unit's experience in repairing military hardware. The widespread frontline use of first-person-view (FPV) kamikaze drones, which surged in 2023, has forced Ukrainian troops to urgently upgrade their armored vehicles. This adaptation is a critical part of the ongoing defense against evolving Russian tactics.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the 81st Brigade has been modernizing its fleet of combat vehicles. The 'Kozak' armored cars were considered reliable without major upgrades until 2023. Facing this new threat, the brigade's repair technicians—who have now been working under war conditions for four years—developed new methods to enhance vehicle protection.

Welding Techniques and Their Effectiveness

Serhiy 'Vovk' explains the welding process:

“'Obvaryuvannya'—or welding-on—means we apply and weld metal grids and chains around the vehicle's sides,”

he says. This technique helps to disrupt and contain the impact of FPV drones. For the welding, they use steel 'angle bars' and other available materials.

“The armor was welded from 'angle bars,' from whatever materials we had at hand,”

Serhiy notes.

The soldiers express deep satisfaction with the results of their work.

“We are overjoyed when we see that our equipment has saved lives,”

says Serhiy 'Vovk'. The welding expertise they employ was gained primarily from veterans of the 2014-2015 conflict generation, whose knowledge has become a crucial asset in refining vehicle defense.

Consequently, the efforts of Serhiy 'Vovk's' team demonstrate how adaptation and the implementation of new technologies can significantly improve the safety of military hardware in modern warfare. Given the constant shifts in combat tactics, adapting military equipment is critically important for preserving soldiers' lives. The introduction of new protection methods, like welding on armor, highlights the Ukrainian military's ability to rapidly respond to emerging threats and maintain the effectiveness of their equipment on the battlefield. It also underscores the vital role of experience from earlier conflicts in shaping contemporary defense strategies.