Inside Ukraine's Killer-Drone Startup Industry

On the top floor of a building somewhere in Ukraine is a drone workshop. Inside is a chaotic workbench covered in logic boards, antennas, batteries, augmented reality headsets, and rotor blades. On one end of the room is a makeshift photo studio--a jet-black quadcopter drone sits on a long white sheet, waiting for its close-up. He grins as he shows off his creations, flittering around with a lit cigarette in his mouth, dangling ash, grabbing different models. Yvan holds up a mid-size drone: This model successfully hit a target from 11 kilometers away, he says, but it should be capable of traveling at least 20. He's trying different batteries and controllers to try to extend the range.