Ukrainian army's 'Drone Bonus' raises ethical concerns in war
The Ukrainian army has implemented a points system that measures combat effectiveness based on the number of destroyed targets. For many, this is an innovation—units receive drones in exchange for neutralizing the enemy. However, some express concern that this approach blurs the line between humans and targets. "Whether we like it or not, we have to evaluate facts, not dreams," said General Bogusław Pacek in an interview with WP Tech.
War is evolving before our eyes, yet one thing remains constant: the need for motivation. The Ukrainian army has introduced a system called the Army of Drones Bonus. The concept is straightforward; in exchange for neutralizing the enemy, a unit receives points. Soldiers can earn 6 points for hitting a soft target, 20 for damaging a tank, 40 for destroying it, and up to 50 points for destroying a mobile missile system. Success is documented through video recordings, and in return, units are supposed to receive new armaments. Ukrainian commanders believe this strategy will enhance frontline efficiency and provide smaller units with new equipment.
The e-points system is only part of Ukraine's strategy
The Army of Drones Bonus initiative was launched by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation at the end of 2024 as part of a broader strategy aimed at decentralizing management. The plans are ambitious, as the bonus system is soon to be integrated with Brave1 Market—a shopping platform launched by the Ukrainian government in April 2025. This concept, sometimes referred to as the "military Amazon," aims to directly connect units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with advanced military technology manufacturers.
The Ukrainian military expects that this solution will motivate soldiers to effectively combat the enemy. However, the points system in wartime conditions can significantly alter soldiers' internal motivations, leading them to calculate the value of a given action, which may promote the commodification of violence. The psychological effects of rewarding violence are difficult to determine, but the notion is not new.
Similar systems have appeared before
Such reward systems have been present in military operations previously. Currently, the Russian Federation employs a financial motivation system in the war in Ukraine, where both officers and rank-and-file soldiers receive additional remuneration for hitting tanks, airplanes, or destroying forces.
Motivation system and patriotic upbringing
The points system in wartime conditions can significantly alter soldiers' internal motivations. Instead of acting out of a sense of duty, loyalty to comrades, or the idea of defending their homeland, they might start calculating the worth of their actions. This approach can promote effective counteraction of the enemy's violence. As General Bogusław Pacek emphasizes, the best results come from patriotic upbringing, understanding tasks, and believing in their validity. However, remuneration and motivational systems are playing an increasingly important role in conflicts.
General Bogusław Pacek adds that experiences from military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan, where soldiers received increased allowances for participating in patrols outside the base, indicate that soldiers were more willing to undertake higher-risk actions.
Rewarding points for "eliminating" the enemy encourages viewing the opponent not as a human, but as a target that brings benefits. This is a classic dehumanization mechanism known from highly brutalized conflicts. Such a reward system can weaken internal moral inhibitions, especially in less experienced soldiers. Moreover, functioning in such an environment can potentially hinder reintegration into civilian life significantly. If for many months or years a soldier's value was measured by the number of "successful actions" for which they received "grades" and rewards, returning to everyday life, where such metrics don't exist, can lead to a sense of bewilderment or even social alienation.
Is war beginning to resemble a simulation?
Due to the nature of attacks, soldiers may feel like they're not eliminating people but characters. This can lead to a distorted perception of the conflict where citizens of both countries are dying. Media often liken this strategy to a game, yet it is an element of a new-generation war—a war in which new technology plays a strategic role. As Dr. Katarzyna Derlatka from the University of Łódź emphasizes, war now takes place on many levels. It is not only a hybrid war but also a digital one, where progress forces the use of unconventional methods.
A soldier motivated by reward enters a task mode, may become competitive, and feel needed. This benefits individuals as well as entire groups. The new mechanism of conducting war, however, eliminates empathy. Thanks to technological progress, war often seems like a cruel digital illusion: drone pilots target enemy drones, thus increasing the distance and making the horrors of war more unreal.
While the introduction of a points system in the Ukrainian army might enhance operational efficiency and motivate units to act, it raises serious concerns and questions of an ethical, psychological, and social nature. The distinction between efficiency and dehumanization becomes blurred. The armed conflict increasingly resembles a digital simulation, where real human life is reduced to targets for elimination.
