Drones change strategy and nature of war in Ukraine - ISW

A sergeant from the Ukrainian Armed Forces drone battalion, operating in the area of Chasiv Yar, noted that constant technological changes and battlefield adaptation are increasingly transforming combat into a long-range warfare rather than traditional infantry and armored vehicle confrontations.

According to him, the active use of drones by both sides has expanded the zones of combat engagement and fire impact on the front lines. While in 2024, the depth of gray zones ranged from 500 meters to 2 kilometers, today, thanks to more intensive drone use, it sometimes extends to 5-7 kilometers.

The sergeant also mentioned that Russian forces are actively developing their drone capabilities and adopting Ukrainian tactics of intercepting enemy drones and remote mining. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are successfully leveraging their technological advantage to protect key areas of the front and minimize the shortage of personnel and resources.

Innovations and operational concepts

The Ukrainian army consists of over 100 brigades, defending more than 2,100 kilometers of frontlines within the country and along the border with Russia. Drones play a significant role in deterring attacks, being actively used alongside traditional weaponry.

Moreover, Ukraine is rapidly increasing its domestic drone production and foreign procurement. This not only allows the defense to be maintained but also enables a systematic campaign of long-range strikes on energy and defense infrastructure deep behind enemy lines, weakening Russia's production and logistical capabilities.

In recent months, both sides have increasingly used fiber-optic drones for strikes on forward positions and FPV drones to intercept large reconnaissance devices.

"ISW has observed the rapid rate at which both Ukraine and Russia have managed to conceptualize, field, and implement near-continuous technological innovation and battlefield-adjusted tactics to optimize combat dynamics. The innovation and operational concepts being forged in Ukraine will set the stage for the future of warfare," the Institute for the Study of War concludes.

War of drones

Ukrainian military forces are effectively using FPV drones daily to strike enemy targets.

Recently, Russian units of strike drones were relocated from the Kursk region to eastern Ukraine and are planned to be used for an assault on the city of Kostiantynivka.

On April 23, Ukrainian forces attacked a strike drone production plant in the Alabuga special economic zone. The facility was severely damaged, and drone production was halted.

Meanwhile, by the end of the year, Russia plans to change its offensive tactics.