War is above all a question of figures. How many men, how many missiles, how many tanks, how many drones, how many strikes, how long. The 414th Ukrainian Brigade of Air Vehicles without a attack pilot, better known as the “Magyar birds”, understood this. This drone unit spent in two years from a peloton to a regiment, publish its statistics every month, and those of Mars are eloquent: more than 5,000 targets affected, videos of russian tanks sprayed and, above all, an avalanche of figures which say a lot about the change in the battlefield.
Ukrainian propaganda makes these drone attacks a show, and rhythmic videos are often accompanied by music and patriotic messages explains Forbes magazine. On the figure, we also try to make an impression: 7,874 drones in the first person view (FPV) used in March 2025 (which represents 60% of the attacks), 3,582 outings of heavy bombers (31%), and a handful of quadricoptera to complete the table. The famous “Baba Yaga” bombers do damage but their night use is not as beautiful to see on the networks as an FPV attack in broad daylight on a drone, and is therefore less highlighted.
The statistics, however, reveal a war of attrition, much less glorious and spectacular than the images believe. Out of 5,334 targets affected last month, only 1,848 were considered destroyed. It takes an average of 2.2 outlets to damage a target, 7.1 to scratch it from the card.
Most targets are not tanks or artillery parts, but isolated soldiers or supply trucks. In March, 1,701 Russian infantry soldiers were targeted by the machines of the Ukrainian regiment, for 1,002 killed. The striking on structures (buildings, trenches) are numerous, but rarely decisive: 2 .170 attacks for only 125 proven destruction.
Industrial war, low-cost version
To follow the pace, Ukraine must ensure that logistics follows: 200,000 FPVs are produced each month in the country, 4% of which end in the hands of 414th brigade. Obviously, losses are an integral part of the model and its taking into account in production: 52 bombers were destroyed in March, for an average lifespan of 69 outings. A more than positive ratio since the cost per mission is less than $ 300 (around 260 euros) specifies Forbes.
Civilian drones are also there, with 10,252 recognition missions in March and a life expectancy that lengthens as operators learn to thwart Russian jamming. Because who says drone war, also says war of innovation: guided bombs, rocket launcher, fiber optical fpv insensitive to jamming, each novelty allowing to take an advantage over the enemy is welcome.
Behind the accumulation of data put forward by the birds of Magyar, a reality is essential: modern war is won in the field that but also in Excel spreadsheets. And if Russia keeps the advantage of the number, Ukraine has learned to count.
