Russian Offensive in Eastern Ukraine Stalls, Drones Play a Significant Role in the Battle

Russian Offensive in Eastern Ukraine Stalls, Drones Play a Significant Role in the Battle

In the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine, the Russian offensive has reached a standstill, with drones playing a significant role in the battlefield. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have transformed the way both Ukrainian and Russian forces operate, although they have not fundamentally altered the character of war.

Russian Offensive in Eastern Ukraine Stalls, Drones Play a Significant Role in the Battle

Drones have provided accessible and affordable capabilities at an unprecedented scale, making it difficult to concentrate forces, achieve surprise, and conduct offensive operations. 

While not more survivable than crewed aircraft, drones enable greater risk acceptance due to their lower cost and replaceability. They also enhance the effectiveness of traditional artillery, making common artillery shells precision weapons when connected to ground-based fires units.

First-person-view kamikaze drones, in particular, have emerged as a significant factor in the conflict. These small, inexpensive drones can accurately hit mobile targets, increasing the lethality of frontlines. 

However, they cannot substitute for howitzers, as even large numbers of small drones cannot match the potency or volume of artillery fire.

Despite the hype surrounding the Turkish-built Bayraktar TB2 drone, medium-altitude long-endurance drones have not played a substantial role in this war. Instead, smaller military and commercial or do-it-yourself drones are extensively used by ground forces on both sides. 

These drones offer surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, providing real-time information on the disposition of nearby enemy and friendly forces.

The widespread use of drones has made the defense dominant and the frontlines extremely lethal, making it difficult for forces to move or mass, and achieve tactical surprise or go on the offensive. However, offensive operations are still possible if one side takes advantage of environmental factors that inhibit drone operations.

The combination of large numbers of weapons systems linked together, such as unarmed drones and artillery, has proven to be truly disruptive in Ukraine. Drones have played a critical enabling role as spotters that acquire targets and help to adjust fires by communicating targeting information using virtual battle networks to fires units.

In summary, drones have significantly impacted the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, changing how troops fight at a tactical level and influencing all future battlefields. However, they have not revolutionized the character of war or determined the outcome of the conflict. As the war continues, the role of drones will remain crucial, but they will not replace traditional air forces or obtain air superiority.