~ by Valerii Bondar
Meet Tom from Ukraine — a volunteer drone specialist who repairs Mavic drones for Ukrainian soldiers free of charge. His is a story of dedication, teamwork, and hope.
How It All Started
“One day I received a broken Mavic drone from a friend. I tried to find someone to repair it, but no one wanted to help — or they asked for huge amounts of money,” Tom recalled.
That’s when he decided to try fixing it himself. Soon, others wanted help repairing drones. At first, he repaired them for small fees, experimenting and learning, but soon he realized he could use his skills to help soldiers for free. For Tom, this work is not just about fixing technology or making money — it’s about helping people, saving lives, and contributing to the country’s defense effort.
The First Steps and the People Who Helped
“I once saw a TikTok video of a man from Zaporizhzhia named Oleksandr, who repaired drones. I reached out to him, and he was incredibly supportive — he shared advice and guided me through the basics,” Tom said. Later, he met Oleh, a Ukrainian living in the United States, who helped him connect with the organization Ukraine Defense Support (UDS).
“Since 2023, we’ve been working with UDS. Thanks to their help, I receive drone parts and now I can repair Mavic drones for our military completely free of charge.”
Tom also expressed gratitude to Vera, who assisted with logistics, sourcing parts, and moral support — becoming an essential part of the project.
Tom’s Work Today
Today, Tom focuses exclusively on Mavic drones, as they are the most commonly used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. His workshop often receives heavily damaged drones from the frontlines — sometimes in pieces. “Every time I get a message saying the drone is flying again and helping the troops — that’s my biggest reward,” he said
Why It Matters
In modern warfare, drones are the eyes and hands of the army. Thanks to volunteers like Tom, hundreds of drones return to the sky, saving lives and supporting critical missions. Each repaired Mavic is another chance for survival — another step toward victory.
The Different Types of DJI Mavic Drones
The DJI Mavic series represents a full lineup of high-performance drones designed for reliable and precise missions under diverse conditions. Known for their stability, image quality, and ease of control, Mavic drones have become an essential part of both civilian and military operations. They are indispensable in the field: they can be quickly deployed, operated by a single soldier, and provide critical intelligence in real time. More information about the types of Mavic Drones being used in Ukraine can be found in the footnote of this article.
Photos & Video
Below, you’ll find before and after photos and videos of repaired drones — powerful proof that even broken machines can fly again when repaired with skill and heart.
Why These Drones Are Vital to Keeping Soldiers Alive
On today’s battlefield, a drone is far more than a flying camera — it’s the soldier’s eyes, ears, and sometimes even their shield. Mavic drones enable troops to:
- conduct reconnaissance safely, without exposing personnel to direct danger;
- adjust artillery fire with pinpoint accuracy, reducing ammunition waste and collateral damage;
- locate enemy positions and vehicles from
- several kilometers away;
- find wounded soldiers and send precise coordinates for evacuation;
- monitor enemy movements and detect ambushes in real time;
send critically needed supplies to frontline positions, including food and water.
Every operational drone means lives saved. The more visibility a unit has, the better it can anticipate threats and avoid deadly traps. Thermal-equipped models like the Mavic 3T can identify hostile movement in darkness, while lighter drones such as the Mavic 2 can perform stealth missions without revealing their operator’s position. Additionally, these drones are compact, quick to launch, and easy to use — one trained soldier can get a drone airborne and deliver intelligence data to command in just minutes.
“Every repaired Mavic is not just a machine — it’s a new pair of eyes for those who defend their homeland. Each one that returns to service means another chance for survival, for success, and for soldiers to make it home alive.”
Final Words
Tom’s story is one of kindness, determination, and love for his country. Sometimes, it takes just one person to make the impossible happen. One drone means someone’s eyes in the sky.
And every repaired Mavic is one more step toward freedom, one more chance to save lives and bring victory closer. Thankfully, Tom is not alone. He has built a community of people united by a single purpose — to help where help is needed. Some provide spare parts, others assist with logistics or share their knowledge, and many simply offer moral support. Every contribution, no matter how small, matters.
Tom’s story reminds us that the true strength of Ukraine lies in its people — those who refuse to stand aside, who keep working, creating, and believing, even in the toughest times.
He may be repairing drones instead of commanding troops, but his work is no less important. Because thanks to people like him, technology returns to the sky — and with it, hope returns too.
And when another Mavic takes flight after being repaired, it carries not only a camera and battery — it carries a piece of the human heart that beats for Ukraine.
More Information About Some of the Most Widely Used DJI Mavic Models on the Battlefield
- DJI Mavic 2 Zoom / Pro — a compact and reliable drone with excellent imaging capabilities, strong signal transmission, and long flight time.
- DJI Mavic 3 — a more advanced model equipped with a Hasselblad camera, longer range, improved GPS navigation, and enhanced obstacle avoidance
- DJI Mavic 3T (Thermal) — the thermal imaging version that allows soldiers to detect enemy forces or vehicles even in darkness, smoke, or fog
- DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise — a professional-grade drone used for complex missions such as reconnaissance, artillery correction, mapping, and search-and-rescue operations
Each model offers its own strengths — flight endurance, precision, night operation capability, or portability.
