Ukraine and Russia are both using Chinese commercial drones for psychological warfare and spying

We've officially entered the age of drone wars.

The Ukraine-Russia war started with the mobilization of Russian tanks, but now more than ever, the two countries are fighting, spying, and engaging in psychological warfare with the use of both military drones and commercial/residential ones, according to a new report by the Washington Post.

With massive amounts of money being sent to eastern Europe, Republicans have been asking for details regarding the weapons being provided, but the use of handheld drones was likely not on anyone's mind or at the very least has been severely underreported.

Currently, there are "hundreds of reconnaissance and attack drones flying over Ukraine each day" — all varying in type and size — in what appears to be an obvious result of, and solution to, attrition. Drones are being used in all integral militaristic phases on both sides, with radar jamming and air defense being carried out by large fleets.

Russia is reportedly using it's own six-foot drones, along with Iranian drones that are nearly twice the size. Ukraine is being provided the American Switchblade 300 "suicide drone" alongside its use of the gigantic Bayraktar TB2, a Turkish drone with a 12-meter wingspan.

However, both sides are using what's called the Mavic 3 drone — a small, easily obtainable product for home or commercial use that can be bought off the manufacturer's website or Amazon. It's use was recently called a "true symbol of modern warfare" by a retired Russian general earlier this year.

They are so widely prevalent that Ukrainian soldiers say they often "don’t know if the drone they spot is friend or foe."

The Chinese-made drone typically used for aerial photography or video has a vastly different purpose in this armed conflict than those of its larger cousins. Among its uses include dropping explosives fashioned out of recycled soda bottles, a strategy Ukrainian special forces claim they used in November 2022.

In Kharkiv, Ukraine, the aerial units are explicitly used as a method of psychological warfare by dropping small munitions on Russian bases.

Ukraine is publicly collecting funds to buy up swaths of drones around the world to add to its fleet. A charity run by a Ukrainian TV star openly boasts on its website about the number of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles it has provided the military:

"Drones, the eyes in the sky Strengthened Ukrainian army with 2984+ Drones," it reads.

Also mentioned are the captured/damaged enemy vehicles that have been repurposed:

"Repaired 2 T-72 tanks, 2 BMP-3, 1 APC, and BREM for the needs of Ukrainian defenders."

The pursuit for even more drones is apparently endless; Ukraine's United24, the official crowd-funding arm of the country, has an initiative called the "Army of Drones" which seeks to by around 1,000 UAVs. Its fundraising achievements are posted proudly on the website.

"Total collected: $237,850,771 ... Current Balance: $36,724,286."

The goal, according to the report, is 10,000 drones all across the front lines to broadcast the war "without interruption."