As the conflict in Ukraine enters its fifth year, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have achieved total dominance over the front line, marking a global shift in the nature of modern combat.
Four years after the commencement of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has noted that drones – ranging from basic civilian models to specialised explosive craft – are now responsible for approximately 80 per cent of all battlefield damage.
The ‘Kill Zone’ and Ground Logistics According to military expert Kateryna Bondar, the front line has evolved into a 20-kilometre (12-mile) “kill zone” where constant drone surveillance makes survival nearly impossible. This environment has rendered heavy artillery and armoured vehicles highly vulnerable due to their slow movement and high visibility.
An infantry soldier known as Koleso explained that troops must now operate in small, fast-moving units while maintaining a constant watch on the sky to avoid detection. To mitigate human risk, Ukrainian forces have deployed unmanned ground vehicles to transport supplies and evacuate casualties in high-risk areas.
The race for Connectivity
A critical technological race is currently focused on communication stability. While radio-controlled drones were initially standard, they remain susceptible to electronic warfare and signal jamming.
In response, Russian forces have introduced drones linked by ultra-thin fibre-optic cables, which are immune to jamming but have left various landscapes covered in physical wiring. Conversely, Ukraine’s Lasar Group, led by a commander known as Phoenix, has pioneered the integration of Starlink terminals onto drones to ensure stable video feeds and control over long distances via satellite internet.
Last month, following Ukrainian pressure, Elon Musk disabled unauthorised Russian Starlink terminals. While this move caused disruptions for both sides, the Institute for the Study of War reported it likely facilitated a rapid Ukrainian advance in the Zaporizhzhia region in early February.
Interceptor drones and AI integration
The proliferation of cheap drones has necessitated a revamp of air defence strategies, as using multi-million dollar missiles against inexpensive UAVs is financially unsustainable. Ukraine has responded by developing interceptor drones specifically designed for mid-air combat. Marko Kushnir of General Cherry, a prominent manufacturer, stated that the era of “the war of drones with drones” has begun.
Engineers are now racing to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into these systems. The Ukrainian firm The Fourth Law (TFL) has developed “terminal guidance” software, allowing AI to control a drone in its final moments to ensure accuracy even if the manual connection is lost. Maksym Savanevskyi of TFL warned that Western nations must keep pace with Russian and Chinese AI developments to avoid falling behind.
The future of the human soldier
Despite these advancements, experts suggest that a fully automated battlefield remains a distant prospect. Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO and current head of the AI drone supplier SwiftBeat, described the idea of removing humans entirely from combat as “naive”. Speaking in Kyiv, he predicted that for the foreseeable future, warfare will involve “drones first, people second”.
On the ground, soldiers maintain that technology cannot replace physical presence. Koleso argued that territorial gains are only secured when a soldier personally plants a flag “with your own hands”.
