In recent months, Russian forces have shifted their drone tactics to try to cripple Ukrainian logistics and supply lines to the front lines. According to The Wall Street Journal, roads that were once considered safe within 20 miles of the front line are now regularly targeted.
According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Russians are turning some sections of the road into “corridors of death,” where any car comes under fire. In response, the Ukrainian military is trying to adapt: installing anti-drone nets, moving in the dark, and using small cars instead of trucks.
However, Russian tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Heavy drones, known as “mother drones,” have emerged that launch smaller explosive drones and also act as relay antennas to extend their range, allowing Moscow to strike on roads and approaches to cities far from the front line.
Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Zaporozhets from the 11th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasizes that while previously attacks were isolated, now they are systematic. This concerns not only supply routes, but also warehouses, evacuation routes, and approaches to settlements.
The consequences are felt directly on the front lines. Units are sometimes forced to wait a day or more for ammunition, which deprives them of the opportunity to operate at full strength. Evacuation of the wounded is also complicated - both by drone attacks and by destroyed roads. Medics admit that in such conditions, providing aid while moving becomes almost impossible.
The anti-drone nets that Ukrainian forces are massively installing over roads only partially solve the problem. The Russians are adapting: trying to hit the supports to collapse the structures, or leaving drones in ambushes at exits and entrances.
In turn, the Financial Times notes that the future of warfare could be defined by the use of swarms of drones with artificial intelligence. Such technologies can radically change the balance of power on the battlefield.
