HYDERABAD: While Russian forces advanced towards Kyiv, the battle for Moshchun, a village 8 km away from the capital, played a crucial role in deciding the fate of Ukraine , where locally sourced drones from Ukrainians helped repel the Russian army.
Iryna Kabalska, a former business executive and current project manager at the regional development department of the Hostomel military administration, said, “Locals used their hobby drones and gave them to the military, participating in the drone warfare .” Though villagers contributed simple drones, the war saw the use of advanced drones like Russia ’s Shahed and Ukraine’s FPV drones , making it a drone-centric conflict. Kabalska emphasized the unique role of drones in this war, noting that it is rare to see such extensive civilian involvement, with people coming forward to donate drones and actively participate.
Experts have noted that drones have fundamentally changed the character of war, with kamikaze drones capable of hitting mobile targets, increasing the lethality of frontlines. Dmytro Bryzhynskyi, head of the Chernihiv military administration and a reserve colonel, explained, “There has been a drastic change in the art of war thanks to technological advancements, which have become widespread. Manufacturing one FPV drone is cheaper than preparing one infantry soldier. It is cheaper to send an FPV drone to target a Russian military position than to train and equip a Ukrainian soldier.”
He added that impulse weapons, which block drones, are being actively developed and that future wars may not resemble today’s conflicts. Mykhailo Samus, a geopolitical and security expert and director of the New Strategy Center in Bucharest, spoke about the war’s impact on military operations.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine leverage drones for various tasks, from reconnaissance and targeting to fulfilling strike functions. For the first time, the UAF created special UAV strike companies, totaling 60 units, which has been a significant part of their adaptation to new technological realities on the battlefield.”Samus also highlighted that as of November 2023, Ukraine was manufacturing up to 50,000 drones, primarily FPV drones, which cost between $500 to $700. “For 2024, there are ambitious plans to further increase drone production, with the state budget allocating 1.1 billion euros for both aviation and maritime systems.”
He noted that Ukraine’s rapid drone production growth surprised Russia, which had developed a drone program after its war with Georgia in 2008. “Russia has not been able to significantly change its drone production model and continues to focus on scaling existing projects, such as Orlan-10, Lancet, and Kub-BLA, while introducing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence.” Samus warned about the potential strategic challenges posed by Russia’s scaling of the Shahed kamikaze drone, which threatens Ukraine’s air defenses. Plans to produce 6,000 Shaheds in 2024, despite sanctions, pose a significant threat to Ukraine and could become a direct challenge to NATO countries in the future he opined.
Iryna Kabalska, a former business executive and current project manager at the regional development department of the Hostomel military administration, said, “Locals used their hobby drones and gave them to the military, participating in the drone warfare .” Though villagers contributed simple drones, the war saw the use of advanced drones like Russia ’s Shahed and Ukraine’s FPV drones , making it a drone-centric conflict. Kabalska emphasized the unique role of drones in this war, noting that it is rare to see such extensive civilian involvement, with people coming forward to donate drones and actively participate.
Experts have noted that drones have fundamentally changed the character of war, with kamikaze drones capable of hitting mobile targets, increasing the lethality of frontlines. Dmytro Bryzhynskyi, head of the Chernihiv military administration and a reserve colonel, explained, “There has been a drastic change in the art of war thanks to technological advancements, which have become widespread. Manufacturing one FPV drone is cheaper than preparing one infantry soldier. It is cheaper to send an FPV drone to target a Russian military position than to train and equip a Ukrainian soldier.”
He added that impulse weapons, which block drones, are being actively developed and that future wars may not resemble today’s conflicts. Mykhailo Samus, a geopolitical and security expert and director of the New Strategy Center in Bucharest, spoke about the war’s impact on military operations.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine leverage drones for various tasks, from reconnaissance and targeting to fulfilling strike functions. For the first time, the UAF created special UAV strike companies, totaling 60 units, which has been a significant part of their adaptation to new technological realities on the battlefield.”Samus also highlighted that as of November 2023, Ukraine was manufacturing up to 50,000 drones, primarily FPV drones, which cost between $500 to $700. “For 2024, there are ambitious plans to further increase drone production, with the state budget allocating 1.1 billion euros for both aviation and maritime systems.”
He noted that Ukraine’s rapid drone production growth surprised Russia, which had developed a drone program after its war with Georgia in 2008. “Russia has not been able to significantly change its drone production model and continues to focus on scaling existing projects, such as Orlan-10, Lancet, and Kub-BLA, while introducing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence.” Samus warned about the potential strategic challenges posed by Russia’s scaling of the Shahed kamikaze drone, which threatens Ukraine’s air defenses. Plans to produce 6,000 Shaheds in 2024, despite sanctions, pose a significant threat to Ukraine and could become a direct challenge to NATO countries in the future he opined.
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