Schoolboy nicknamed ‘hero of Ukraine’ held off Russian tanks using a toy drone

Andrii Pokrasa provided his providers as troops had been surging in direction of Kyiv (Image: Fb)

A 15-year-old boy who flies drones as a interest helped to forestall Russian troopers from overrunning Kyiv.

Andrii Pokrasa has revealed his function within the defence of the capital after being hailed ‘an actual hero, a hero of Ukraine’ by the navy.

Determined troopers making an attempt to trace the place of a column of troops and tanks heading for the capital didn't have entry to a drone within the early days of the invasion.

His father obtained in contact with native defenders to inform them his son was expert at flying one, had purchased his personal as a pastime and may be capable to assist.

Not lengthy after, the schoolboy, extra used to skateboarding than navy reconnaissance, helped direct strikes in opposition to the convoy.

The teenager informed International Information: ‘They offered us info the place roughly the Russian column could possibly be. 

‘Our aim was to search out the precise coordinates and supply the coordinates to the troopers.

‘It was one of many largest columns that was shifting on the Zhytomyr highway and we managed to search out it as a result of one of many vans turned on its lights for a very long time.’

The teenager took up flying a drone as a interest however wound up having to make use of his ability to assist the military (Image: International Information)

Ukrainian troopers focused the column and had been ultimately capable of cease the march on Kyiv altogether.

Commercially out there drones have turn out to be a core a part of the Ukrainian navy’s technique, in addition to extra superior fashions developed by arms producers.

Taras Troiak, a former retailer, based a Fb group to coordinate drone homeowners in Ukraine who wished to show their interest right into a surveillance software for the the military.

He informed the Canadian outlet: ‘If we didn’t have such operators and drones who can assist the Ukrainian military, I believe Kyiv already could possibly be occupied by Russian forces.’

The Ukrainian military has relied closely on the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone, shopping for dozens within the build-up to the battle.

Ukrainian troopers had been capable of cease a column of troops advancing with the knowledge he offered (Image: International Information)

They've been central to some excessive profile operations, together with the reported technique to sink the Moskva.

A primary-of-its-kind crowdfunding operation in Lithuania in latest weeks noticed greater than £5 million raised to buy one for donation to the Ukrainian navy.

The Turkish producer gifted the weapon without cost when the fundraising goal was hit.

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