Adam Gaines, a 47-year-old tree surgeon from Bath, Somerset, never imagined that his life would shift from climbing wind turbines to flying explosive drones over a war-torn battlefield. With no formal military background, Adam’s six-month experience in Ukraine’s Donetsk region pushed him beyond his limits and left him forever changed.
Growing up in Bath and working in arboriculture, Adam’s life was rooted in earth and nature. Yet, his adventurous spirit led him through two decades in security work overseas, including stints in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the United States. Familiarity with firearms and high-risk environments eased his transition when a chance contact invited him to join Ukraine’s defense efforts. “I just went, ‘yeah, okay, why not?’” Adam recalls.
Upon arriving in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, Adam’s naive expectations were quickly replaced by harsh reality. Guided to a drone training center instead of combat trenches, he completed intensive six-week training and earned an internationally recognized drone operator certificate. Aligning with Ukraine’s 115th Brigade in Lyman, Donetsk Oblast, he began by building bunkers before becoming part of the small but vital Pathfinder Unit, operating unmanned drones to spot and strike enemy forces.
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Adam’s job was deadly serious. Using FPV drones, his team targeted enemy machine-gun nests, artillery, and unfortunately, enemy soldiers. The intensity and trauma were profound — he lost nine comrades in just three weeks, including victims of a devastating chemical attack involving drone-dropped bombs. A near-fatal accident left shrapnel embedded in his head, shoulder, and limbs, but Adam continued flying drones despite severe injuries.
Haunted by the violence and loss, Adam struggled with the aftermath. His ears rang constantly, memories of mortars and explosions lingered, and he wrestled with the moral weight of taking lives. Yet his resilience shone through, helped by past struggles with PTSD and an unwavering focus to keep going. “You get this overwhelming feeling — ‘hey, I’m actually doing this now,’” he says.
Drone operators are prime targets. Adam describes relentless attacks, including enemy drones striking every 15 minutes for hours, making survival a daily fight. Still, amidst the conflict, he found moments of peace in Ukraine’s beautiful landscapes, bonding even with a dog he had to leave behind.
After his contract ended in July, Adam returned to Bath, confronting a complicated reintegration. Friends were mostly opposed, viewing his choice as reckless, but for Adam, it was a necessary escape from boredom and frustration. Plans now include drone-based filming, wind turbine inspections, and a return to quieter life in Nantucket.
Reflecting on the war, Adam is clear-eyed about its brutal reality and uncertain future. “If Zelensky gives up land, the Ukrainians won’t accept it. It’s FUBAR.” Still, he acknowledges the strong bonds forged in combat and admits he might do it all again despite everything. His advice to others: avoid foreign legions unless you’re experienced, but mastering drones opens doors worldwide.
Adam’s ordeal has reshaped him — now sober, more focused, and deeply changed. The scars remain, but so does the knowledge that his efforts made a difference. “You take the drone up in the air… it’s go, go, go… but I made a difference. And that means something.”