Economist Podcasts – The Intelligence

Episode: Drone wolf: Ukraine’s missile mastermind

Date: April 1, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Ukraine’s rapidly evolving drone warfare strategy, spearheaded by Robert Brovdy—also known as “Madyar”—a former grain trader turned commander, now reshaping modern combat. The episode features on-the-ground reporting, examining Brovdy’s unlikely rise, his pioneering use of drones, and the gamification tactics now influencing the battlefield. The discussion dives into Ukraine’s attempts to gain an edge over Russia, and considers whether these high-tech approaches can hold strategic significance in the long-term war effort.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Meeting Ukraine’s Drone Chief (01:09–03:15)

• Secret Command Centers:
  Correspondent Oliver Carroll describes the clandestine journey to an undisclosed Ukrainian command point. He paints an evocative picture:

  “We were inside opposite an entrance to a strange and eccentric underground world of corridors, sleeping pods, a gym, a gallery of famous Ukrainian paintings alongside explosives, drones and missiles...” (01:19)

• Introduction to Robert Brovdy (“Madyar”):
  Brovdy is “busy rewriting the rules of modern warfare,” working in a tiny, windowless room, continuously smoking and drinking imported British tea.

Brovdy’s Unconventional Rise to Commander (03:15–05:00)

• From Grain Trader to Drone Overlord:
  Pre-war, Brovdy mixed with the global elite as a grain trader; at the outbreak, he volunteered for the army and rapidly applied his business sense to battlefield innovation.

  “He joins the army on the second day of war as a civilian volunteer... and this is how he develops some of Ukraine's earliest and most potent drone capabilities.” (03:20)

• Early Innovations:
  He uses commercial drones (originally purchased for his son) to spot Russian tank positions, passing these coordinates to artillery units—establishing Ukraine’s first “drone kill chain.”

• Weaponizing FPV Drones:
  In Bakhmut, with input from drone-racing enthusiasts, Brovdy’s unit modifies FPV (first-person view) drones to drop grenades, laying the foundation of today’s defense strategy.

Gamification and the Evolution of Drone Strategy (05:00–06:58)

• Gamification on the Battlefield:
  Units earn points for hitting specific targets; these can be exchanged for equipment, encouraging strategic target selection.

  “You set a list of targets and you give a certain amount of points to brigades which they can then use to buy certain equipment later.” (05:03)

• Targeting Personnel, Not Just Equipment:
  A strategic pivot occurs:

  “Last summer they decided to prioritise Russian infantry and Russian personnel, understanding that, for example, a drone operator is as valuable to them as a tank.” (05:20)

• Turning the Tides:
  By December, data shows confirmed Russian losses to drones outpacing Russian recruitment—marking a shift in the war’s dynamic.

• High-Tech Integration:
  Video-verified kills and business intelligence software (repurposed from Brovdy’s trading days) manage and optimize drone tactics.

  “Just changing grain type for missile type, for example.” (05:56)

Scaling Up: Limits and Opportunities (06:58–08:48)

• Potential for Expansion:
  Brovdy argues adequate funding could yield a casualty ratio of 400 Russians for every Ukrainian, favoring unmanned warfare to save Ukrainian lives.

  “His core message is it's much better to swap plastic and metal for dead enemy soldiers.” (07:13)

• Russia’s Response:
  Russia’s industrial scale counterbalances Ukrainian innovation, but Ukraine’s focused approach brings hope.
  Brovdy remains realistic:

  “Let’s just see if we can keep this pace into the next year. And he doesn’t have any fantasies that this war is about to end.” (08:31)

• Memorable Analogy:
  Brovdy’s view on the Russian army:

  “He refers to the Russian army as this cow that needs to be milked and exhausted beyond its maximum capacity.” (05:56)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Brovdy’s Transformation:

  “Before the war, he was this grain trader who was used to fraternizing with the super rich in London auction houses. And now he’s this 50-year-old weathered wolf of war.” — Oliver Carroll (02:20)

• On the Shift in Warfare:

  “Few people have been as consequential as him in this war. He’s a key architect of Ukraine’s latest strategy, targeting drone power on individual Russian soldiers.” — Oliver Carroll (02:33)

• On Data and Verification:

  “Everything is verified by video and then is fed into a Business intelligence software that Brovdi actually repurposed from his grain trading days.” — Oliver Carroll (05:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:09] – Arrival at secret drone operations center
• [02:20] – Insight into Brovdy’s persona and background
• [03:15] – Brovdy’s journey from grain trader to drone commander
• [05:00] – The “gamification” of drone warfare
• [05:56] – Shift to targeting personnel; data tracking advances
• [07:09] – Discussion of scalability and funding
• [08:31] – Realistic prospects for the war’s outcome

Tone & Style

The conversation is urgent yet thoughtful, combining vivid frontline storytelling with analytical reflection. Oliver Carroll’s descriptions bring the hidden world of Ukrainian military innovation to life, while the Economist hosts guide the discussion with measured, concise queries.

Additional Context

The segment offers a rare, firsthand account of how a single innovator—operating with autonomy, creativity, and business-like rigor—is challenging the conventional scales of war, underscoring the potential and the limitations of technology in shifting the fortunes of national conflict.

This summary captures the episode’s most insightful contributions, making it accessible and engaging even for listeners new to the topic.