Full explanation
ULV advantages: (1) water savings — 50–200× less (critical for Steppe after Kakhovka); (2) coverage speed — 50–150 ha/hour by drone vs 15–30 ha/hour by ground sprayer; (3) access to waterlogged or sloped fields where machinery gets stuck. Drawbacks: very high drift risk from fine droplets (up to 2–3 km per EU R 2009/128/EC), dedicated ULV formulations required (ULV, EW, SU), and strict weather windows (wind <3 m/s, temp <25 °C, RH >60%). In Ukraine drones (DJI Agras T40/T50, XAG P100) treated ~0.8–1.2 million ha in 2025/26 [VERIFY] — mostly maize, sunflower, and vineyards. Treatment cost: UAH 180–280/ha including product [VERIFY]. Regulatory anchors: Ukraine's Pesticides Law, MinAgro Order 744/2022 (drone rules), ICAO Annex 6. Restrictions: banned within 500 m of dwellings, water bodies, or apiaries; 48-hour advance notice required.