Points for kills: Ukraine's drone war takes cues from video games
Known as the “Army of Drones Bonus System,” the initiative rewards soldiers for successful strikes with points that can be exchanged for weapons, drones, and other equipment
Ukraine has introduced a computer game-style reward system for drone operators that officials say is transforming battlefield tactics, motivation, and data analysis in its war against Russia.
Known as the "Army of Drones Bonus System," the initiative rewards soldiers for successful strikes with points that can be exchanged for weapons, drones, and other equipment through an online military supply platform called Brave1, described by participants as an "Amazon-for-war."
The program has grown rapidly, expanding from 95 participating drone units in August to around 400 by late September. According to Ukrainian officials, drone teams operating under the system killed or wounded 18,000 Russian soldiers in September — twice the number reported in the previous October, says The Guardian.
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Officials say the system has created what Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called a "self-reinforcing cycle": "The more infantry you kill, the more drones you get to kill more infantry."
Incentives and Expansion
Initially focused on drone strikes, the points-based structure has been extended to artillery, reconnaissance, and logistics units.
- Reconnaissance teams earn points for "Uber targeting," which involves dropping a virtual pin on a map for another unit's drone to strike.
- Artillery units are rewarded for successful strikes.
- Logistics teams receive points for using autonomous vehicles to deliver supplies to frontlines.
High-value targets yield greater rewards. Killing a Russian drone operator earns 25 points, while capturing a soldier using a drone brings 120 points — a reflection of Ukraine's need for prisoners of war for exchange.
The value of points changes with battlefield priorities. The Kyiv government doubled rewards for killing Russian infantry from six to 12 points earlier this year, which officials said reflected their increased deployment by Moscow.
Data and Strategy
To claim points, operators must upload video confirmation of their strikes. This requirement has generated what Ukrainian officials describe as a vast data set that helps the military understand which drones and tactics are most effective and where they are used.
Fedorov said the approach gives Ukraine "a better grasp of the mathematics of war." The data also supports what he called "peer-to-peer learning," as the public leaderboard encourages high-performing units such as Achilles and Phoenix to share tactics with others.
Motivation and Conduct
Military leaders say the competition has become "truly popular" among soldiers, who strive to earn points for equipment like electronic warfare systems and new drone models.
Despite its gaming appearance, commanders stress that the system remains subordinate to battlefield necessity. Competition is suspended during major Russian offensives so that all units can coordinate, officials said.
Achilles unit commander Yuriy Fedorenko said the best drone pilots are not necessarily skilled gamers but "disciplined people."
Fedorov described the process of assigning point values for targets as "pretty much emotionless," calling it "just technical work" aimed at stopping the enemy and protecting civilians.
Ethical Debate
The system's gamified design has drawn debate over the ethical implications of linking enemy casualties to rewards. Ukrainian officials defend it as a pragmatic tool to enhance effectiveness, while some Western analysts caution that similar approaches could blur moral boundaries in future conflicts.
Experts at the Royal United Services Institute in London have advised NATO members not to replicate Ukraine's model, arguing that Russian electronic defenses could make comparable systems less effective. Ukrainian intelligence officials, meanwhile, believe Russia may be developing a similar points-based scheme of its own.
Known as the "Army of Drones Bonus System," the initiative rewards soldiers for successful strikes with points that can be exchanged for weapons, drones, and other equipment through an online military supply platform called Brave1, described by participants as an "Amazon-for-war."
The program has grown rapidly, expanding from 95 participating drone units in August to around 400 by late September. According to Ukrainian officials, drone teams operating under the system killed or wounded 18,000 Russian soldiers in September — twice the number reported in the previous October.
Officials say the system has created what Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called a "self-reinforcing cycle": "The more infantry you kill, the more drones you get to kill more infantry."
Incentives and expansion
Initially focused on drone strikes, the points-based structure has been extended to artillery, reconnaissance, and logistics units.
- Reconnaissance teams earn points for "Uber targeting," which involves dropping a virtual pin on a map for another unit's drone to strike.
- Artillery units are rewarded for successful strikes.
- Logistics teams receive points for using autonomous vehicles to deliver supplies to frontlines.
High-value targets yield greater rewards. Killing a Russian drone operator earns 25 points, while capturing a soldier using a drone brings 120 points — a reflection of Ukraine's need for prisoners of war for exchange.
The value of points changes with battlefield priorities. The Kyiv government doubled rewards for killing Russian infantry from six to 12 points earlier this year, which officials said reflected their increased deployment by Moscow.
Data and strategy
To claim points, operators must upload video confirmation of their strikes. This requirement has generated what Ukrainian officials describe as a vast data set that helps the military understand which drones and tactics are most effective and where they are used.
Fedorov said the approach gives Ukraine "a better grasp of the mathematics of war." The data also supports what he called "peer-to-peer learning," as the public leaderboard encourages high-performing units such as Achilles and Phoenix to share tactics with others.
Motivation and conduct
Military leaders say the competition has become "truly popular" among soldiers, who strive to earn points for equipment like electronic warfare systems and new drone models.
Despite its gaming appearance, commanders stress that the system remains subordinate to battlefield necessity. Competition is suspended during major Russian offensives so that all units can coordinate, officials said.
Achilles unit commander Yuriy Fedorenko said the best drone pilots are not necessarily skilled gamers but "disciplined people."
Fedorov described the process of assigning point values for targets as "pretty much emotionless," calling it "just technical work" aimed at stopping the enemy and protecting civilians.
The system's gamified design has drawn debate over the ethical implications of linking enemy casualties to rewards. Ukrainian officials defend it as a pragmatic tool to enhance effectiveness, while some Western analysts caution that similar approaches could blur moral boundaries in future conflicts.
Experts at the Royal United Services Institute in London have advised NATO members not to replicate Ukraine's model, arguing that Russian electronic defenses could make comparable systems less effective. Ukrainian intelligence officials, meanwhile, believe Russia may be developing a similar points-based scheme of its own.
