海角大神

In an abandoned building near the tense聽Avdiivka front line, Ananda, a housewife-turned-combat zone commander, leads a team of Ukrainian soldiers in a high-stakes training exercise. With Russians stationed less than 9 miles away, they test a series of explosives on the eve of a drone attack mission.

鈥淭his is not your ordinary training,鈥� explains Ananda, her eyes scanning the equipment laid out before her. 鈥淚t鈥檚 as close to real conditions as possible.鈥�

A native of the embattled Kharkiv region, Ananda has been on Ukraine鈥檚 front lines since Russia unleashed war on Ukraine in February 2022. The petite but tough commander, whose code name means 鈥渏oy,鈥� is part of a new generation of Ukrainian women who have proved their mettle in battle and earned the respect of their fellow soldiers with a leadership style characterized by compassion, courage, and care.

(Ananda, like the other soldiers in this story, requested to be identified using only a code name for privacy and security reasons.)

鈥淲e call her Mama 107,鈥� says Splash, one of her soldiers, referencing the number of the battalion that their unit is in. A former currency exchange office worker, Splash joined the unit last summer at the age of 26. 鈥淕ender doesn鈥檛 matter,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hat matters is her professionalism.鈥�

鈥淲e stay vigilant鈥�

Amid Russia鈥檚 increased attacks and reinforcements in eastern Ukraine, the work of Ananda鈥檚 drone unit is critical. The Ukrainian positions in this area are strategically important, as they block Russian logistic routes and face significant enemy pressure. The capture of Avdiivka earlier this year brought Russia closer to its goal of securing full control of the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Ananda and her team are meticulous in their preparations, checking every piece of equipment multiple times. Explosive manufacturing requires constant adjustment due to disruptions in the supply chain. Similarly, the drones they use are not factory-made, but assembled from various parts, often of Chinese origin, making the quality of completed drones unpredictable.

鈥淭hese drones are essentially like toys,鈥� Ananda says, keeping a watchful eye on her men. 鈥淲e have to be pilots, mechanical engineers, and welders. We program them, and we make the ammunition ourselves.鈥�

The do-it-yourself nature of their gear demands constant vigilance. 鈥淚t鈥檚 dangerous work,鈥� she warns, 鈥渟o everyone must be extremely careful.鈥� Ananda insists that handling explosives take place a safe distance from the rest of the unit, just in case something goes wrong. While accidents have occurred in her team and others, Ananda鈥檚 strict safety protocols have thus far prevented any deaths or serious injuries.

鈥淢y guys joke they鈥檒l shoot wedding footage after the war,鈥� Ananda laughs. 鈥淏ut for now, they鈥檙e repurposing these drones to carry and release grenades.鈥�

The soldiers systematically work from concealed positions to avoid detection by Russian forces, which are constantly searching for the team鈥檚 bases. Russians are said to offer $3,000 bounties for the position of Ukrainian drone pilots, and the small civilian population in the area does include some people still nostalgic for the Soviet era.

The unit never dawdles. Its rear base, undiscovered by Russian reconnaissance, serves as a stable but temporary home.

鈥淲e only move during the gray time 鈥� dawn and dusk 鈥� when drones have a harder time spotting us,鈥� says Ananda. 鈥淲e are always hiding. We haven鈥檛 had to move [from the base] for a long time, but we stay vigilant.鈥�

Ananda recounts the tragedy of of another, less cautious unit. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 put their phones in flight mode, and the Russian drones detected them. It was a devastating loss.鈥�

鈥淪he always tells us the right thing鈥�

Her squad, formed in January 2023, started with just two members and has grown steadily to 16, each addition carefully vetted by Ananda. She has zero tolerance for any kind of heavy substance use and makes that clear from the outset to anyone joining the team. But she promises that she will have her troops鈥� backs, and will ensure that they are fed and supplied to the best of her ability.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to serve here,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he scariest thing is losing this place and having to join the ordinary infantry in the trenches. Our work is complicated and carries a lot of responsibility.鈥�

She also has a contagious sense of humor and a penchant for pranks that help maintain a high degree of good cheer, even in high-stress situations. The camaraderie and deep respect within the unit are palpable.

Pikachu, a former trolley driver from Dnipro with a tattoo of the Pok茅mon character on his arm, speaks highly of her. 鈥淢ale commanders are not as organized or able to explain things with compassion. She always tells us the right thing and never raises her voice,鈥� he says with affection.

Mechanic, who joined the unit in June 2023, says he had few preconceptions about having a woman commander. 鈥淲hat surprised me the most was her high level of competence and experience,鈥� he says. 鈥淪he understands every technical aspect of what we do and is always learning.鈥�

Kyrylo, another dedicated squad member with sharp piloting skills, lauds her support and understanding. 鈥淭hanks to her training, our work is more intense but also more effective,鈥� he says. 鈥淪he cares deeply for us, even prohibiting me from divorcing my wife to maintain stability.鈥�

The acceptance of women in the army, he says, depends largely on the unit. 鈥淧eople might cross more lines than they should, not understand that it is a professional dynamic,鈥� Kyrylo says. He recalls how the unit attempted to integrate another woman into the team, but the exercise backfired tremendously. She quit after three days.

鈥淪he watched TikTok too much and thought the army was fun,鈥� says Ananda. 鈥淓veryone was really angry.鈥�

鈥淲e try to support each other鈥�

Ananda is proud of the team鈥檚 unity and professionalism. For her, it is key to keep spirits up with humor and a sense of humanity.

鈥淲e try to support each other,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f someone feels bad, I send them to their family. We have psychologists, but it鈥檚 not easy to open up to strangers.鈥�

She has clashed with higher-ranking commanders, often for refusing to accept tasks she sees as illogical risks to the safety and efficiency of her team.

Ananda鈥檚 personal life has been deeply affected by the war. Her husband does not share her willingness to fight on the front.

鈥淥ur children ask how is it that their mom is serving in the war while their dad refuses to fight. It has split our family,鈥� she admits. Her daughter in Kyiv is training to be a drone pilot, while her son lives with her parents near Kharkiv.

Despite the hardships, Ananda remains determined, unwavering in her commitment to her country and her team. 鈥淓very day they come back is a good day.鈥�

Reporting for this story was supported by Oleksandr Naselenko.