Ukrainian soldiers are turning warfare into a point-scoring game with their new drone initiative, known as "Army of Drones: Bonus" or "e-points." This scheme allows units to earn points for confirmed kills of Russian soldiers and equipment, much like scoring in a video game. The points scale varies: for instance, destroying a tank earns 40 points, while capturing a soldier yields a whopping 10 times that.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, emphasizes that the primary goal is gathering quality combat data to optimize military resources. However, motivation is a crucial factor as well; as Fedorov notes, the shifting point values can affect troop motivation significantly.
As soldiers film their drone strikes, videos proliferate on social media, showcasing Ukraine’s aerial warfare. Some servicemen express positivity towards the system, claiming it helps maintain morale amidst the exhausting conflict. However, skepticism exists; certain troops criticize the potential moral implications of turning war into a competitive scoring system, fearing it distracts from the battle's seriousness.
The e-points system also involves a digital marketplace called Brave 1 Market, where troops can use their points to purchase equipment directly from manufacturers. This innovation seeks to streamline military procurement, ensuring units have swift access to essential resources. While the gamification of war raises ethical questions, Ukraine remains resolute in finding novel strategies to combat an overwhelmingly stronger adversary.
