KYIV — Ukrainian military officials have introduced a novel program that turns frontline drone attacks into a competitive scoring system for drone pilots operating against Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. The initiative, known as the Army of Drones Bonus system or ePoints, awards points to Ukrainian units for each Russian soldier or piece of military equipment they incapacitate or destroy, with pilots able to redeem points for additional drones and supplies through a government online marketplace.
The program, developed by the Ukrainian government agency Brave1, aims to incentivize more effective drone strikes by linking operational success to tangible rewards. Each confirmed kill or destruction must be substantiated with multiple video recordings from drones, including onboard footage showing real-time engagements and surveillance drone captures providing secondary verification.
One recent example involved a Russian infantryman targeted in April by the Spartan Brigade, part of Ukraine’s National Guard. Video from the attack drone recorded the soldier’s reaction moments before being incapacitated, supplemented by surveillance drone footage confirming his demise. Although the precise point values attributed to each target remain classified, defense officials have indicated that an infantry soldier is worth 12 points. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed on social media last year that the ePoints system is unique worldwide in its structure and application.
According to Ukrainian sources, the system has coincided with an intensification of drone use against Russian forces. In April alone, Ukrainian drones reportedly incapacitated or killed more than 35,200 Russian troops, marking the highest monthly casualty count in several months. Fedorov noted that this represents the fifth consecutive month during which Russian troop losses exceeded Moscow’s ability to replenish forces.
Analysts attribute the high casualties partly to Russian tactics that involve mass infantry assaults aiming to pressure Ukrainian positions. These losses often increase during seasons with less natural cover, such as fall and winter. However, the Ukrainian drones’ targeting of individual soldiers became more pronounced following a shift in scoring last fall, when the points awarded for neutralizing enemy personnel were doubled.
Reflecting battlefield developments, the ePoints program has also adapted to evolving Russian tactics by introducing new target categories. Snipers, mobile air defense units, and enemy drone operators now yield higher point values, with drone pilots ranked at twice the points of regular infantry. Brave1 CEO Andrii Hrytseniuk explained that as Russian forces withdrew heavy equipment away from front lines to protect it, they increasingly depended on small infantry groups and infiltration tactics — trends the program reflects in its reward structure.
The use of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles has become a defining element of the Ukraine conflict, with Kyiv positioning itself as a global leader in drone warfare. Ukrainian officials are leveraging these technological advantages not only to enhance battlefield capabilities but also to gain international military support and security guarantees. As the conflict continues, the drone war is expected to rapidly evolve, with new technologies and strategies emerging alongside the traditional dynamics of the frontline.