Ukraine deploying more drones to battlefield as Moscow-Kyiv war enters day 161

The Ukrainian military says it has received nearly 20 million dollars from international donor countries and individuals for the purchase of reconnaissance drones.

Ukraine displayed some of the hardware at an airport on the outskirts of Kyiv on Tuesday ahead of its deployment to the frontline.

Earlier this month, the Ukrainian authorities launched a new fundraising campaign called "Army of Drones" to buy and repair drones and train operators.

Throughout the conflict, both Ukrainian and Russian forces have used small consumer drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), in the war to pinpoint enemy positions and guide their artillery strikes.

Just last Sunday, a small explosive device carried by a makeshift drone blew up at the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet on the Crimean Peninsula, wounding six people and prompting the cancellation of ceremonies there honoring Russia's navy, according to authorities.

Oleksander Chendekov, a Ukrainian drone developer, says the UAVs have made it possible to monitor the actions of the enemy, change military strategies, and most importantly - save as many military and civilian lives as possible.

"Unmanned aerial vehicles cost incomparably less than the cost of human lives," Chendekov said.

The donations have come from 74 countries and they say they have even received donations from children sending their own toy drones to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

With the money raised, the military has signed contracts worth around 7 million dollars.

They include the purchase of 78 Matrice multicopters, two ground systems for 20 Warmate attack drones, and 20 Fly Eye drones.

The funding has also been used to train pilots - an estimated 400 have now graduated after two months of training.

Ukrainian serviceman Leonid, who uses the UAVs on the battlefield, said without drones to help pinpoint targets high-precision weapons would be less effective.

"To destroy the enemy, for example, by HIMARS. We need ten more FlyEye for every HIMARS," Leonid said.