Modern warfare has made it abundantly clear that the battle for resources is paramount. Among those resources, two stand out as decisive in today’s conflicts: manpower — specifically infantry — and drones.
It seems evident that Russian President Vladimir Putin is banking on the idea that Western support for Ukraine will falter over time, causing the front lines to collapse and leaving Ukraine defenseless. His strategy hinges on the depletion of resources critical to Ukraine’s defense — the exhaustion of Patriot air defense missile stockpiles, a shortage of artillery shells that would expose infantry to Russia’s relentless assaults, and delays in the arrival of F-16 fighter jets, which would allow Russia to retain air superiority.
Putin’s calculations, however, don’t fully account for Ukraine’s resilience or the technological edge that could shift the tide of war.
I am currently fighting in the Donbas, specifically in the Pokrovsk direction, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how dire the situation has become. This year, we have lost key cities like Avdiivka, Vuhledar, and Selydove, and other towns such as Kostyantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk, Myrnograd, Toretsk, and Kurakhovo are now facing significant threats. With this momentum, Russia has little motivation to end its offensive operations.
But from the trenches, we know there is one clear way to halt Russia’s advances: we must create conditions in which the enemy is rendered incapable of further progress. As the deputy platoon commander of a brigade recognized for being among Ukraine’s most effective in destroying enemy equipment, I firmly believe this objective can be achieved through the deployment and advancement of drones.
Drones have already had a transformative impact on the battlefield. When reconnaissance drones relay accurate intelligence to strike crews, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can deliver devastatingly precise strikes against enemy targets. For example, we’ve successfully pushed Russian heavy equipment 5 to 10 kilometers away from the front lines, relying on high-precision strikes that have deterred the enemy from utilizing tank columns as they once did.
Still, one of Ukraine’s biggest challenges remains the enemy’s infantry. Russian forces are employing small infantry groups to launch wave attacks on our positions, often during the night or in adverse weather conditions when drones are less effective. For now, these conditions limit our UAV operations, but I am confident it’s only temporary. This war has demonstrated that we have a remarkable ability to adapt and develop new tactics to meet rapidly changing challenges.
To secure victory, we must continue leveraging and expanding our use of drone technology. The battlefield is evolving, and with the right resources and strategies, we can ensure that the enemy finds itself unable to press forward on Ukrainian soil.
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