Ukraine has refined its army of drones to such an extent that these tools have become one of the strongest weapons in the fight against Russia's full invasion to its borders.
“Currently, the situation on the battlefield is really dependent on the drones and they are responsible for a very significant percentage of murder on the battlefield,” said Mykhailo Fedorov, vice president of the innovation of CBC News through the translator.
How significant? AND Last report Since two research students in the London Royal United Services Institute (Rusia) suggests that drones attacking Ukraine now include Most Russian losses On the battlefield – and can be particularly fatal in combination with artillery.
These results explain why Ukraine increased orders from what, according to Fedorov, began as thousands of these devices in 2022, to over 1.5 million last year.
Fedorov and other officials say that virtually all drones attacking Ukraine FPV (first person view) They are produced in the country At this point. “Ninety-nine percent,” he said on Friday.
And the President of the Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky said that this country gained the ability to produce four million drones a year.
After days of tense relations and verbal sparring, the White House pushes the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow American access to the critical minerals of Ukraine as a return of billions spent on war help.
When a war from around the world reaches a three -year sign on Monday, Ukraine is located Less certain support from the United StatesSince the inauguration of the US President Donald Trump last month. Among this uncertainty, the fight against the Russian invasion continues, and Kiev seems to be willing to maintain the approach directed by technology to war, taking into account what stands on the other side of the front line.
“Basically, we are now fighting the war of drones,” said Fedorov.
Constant “changes and changes”
Despite the successes of Ukraine with these tools, the situation on earth – or in the air or seaDepending on the type of drone – it constantly changes.
“The battlefield changes and changes every day,” said Fedorov.
He said that private companies played a key role in conducting the innovation of drones that came to Ukraine because they collect feedback from men and women on the battlefield and adapt products accordingly.
“Changes occur literally every week,” said Fedorov.
Oleksandra Molloy, a senior aviation lecturer at the Australian University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra, said that the world is watching what Ukraine is doing with drones.
“The progress of Ukrainians in these drone technologies inspire a global change in the perception of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) in the war – through ingenuity, adaptability, as well as a constant pursuit of innovation,” said Molloy in an interview.
Ukrainian allies also learn from what is developing on the battlefield, but Russia, which develops its own capabilities with drones.
Russian drones turned out to be a danger for Ukrainian soldiers serving on the front line, but also to civilians.
The mission of human rights monitoring the UN in Ukraine informed at the beginning of this month Short -range drones killed more Ukrainian civilians in January than any other type of weapon.
Reports were used that they are standing in front of people near the first line areas on the Ukrainian side Threats to their lives from drones regularly.
Risk reduction for soldiers
The emerging area in the Ukrainian space of war drones is the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), Also known as ground drones.
Like their air counterparts, these devices are used for various purposes on the battlefield – key help in logistics.
“Most of our staff losses take place during logistics in the last mile-for ammunition, food, for other forms of maintenance,” said Fedorov.
He said that the possibility of sending a robot to provide these things to the Ukrainian troops, while ensuring the safety of people, “will be very beneficial” for war efforts.
“Human life, at the end of the day, is crucial for us,” said Fedorov, who previously forecasted that Ukraine would be You must put tens of thousands from these devices in 2025.
But these ground drones are also implemented to deal with mines and other dangerous tasks.
The Rusia report, which analyzed the tactical development in the third year of the war between Russia and Ukraine, said that the current mix of terrestrial drones is still pending.
“They will probably become more reliable, because most technologies with time, investment and cumulative professional engineering knowledge,” said CBC News, Nick Reynolds, friends from Ruthenia Research and co-author of the report.
“Drones are here to stay”
Molloy from UNSW said that the total war in Ukraine showed that “absolutely clear” is that “drones remain”.
She said it was possible that future conflicts can start with drones instead of soldiers.
Fedorov said that Ukrainian allies are learning from what his country is going through – both good and bad.
For example, some of the drone attacks that Ukrainians see leveled in their cities are innovative, and Fedorov said that you can pull out.
“This is probably one of the best values ​​that we can give our allies and partners who help us,” he said. “The experience we share allows them to defend themselves better if the attack comes.”
However, tired Ukrainians may feel, Fedorov said that he could see no other choice but to continue to resist the invasion.
“We have no way to turn it off, so we have no option, not stick to it,” he said.
“Everyone is of course tired – especially the army that is now on the battlefield. They do the hardest job, “said Fedorov. “But there is no other way than generating solutions, problem solving, implementation of projects, defense.
“I think that we are most motivated by the desire to end this war by stopping the enemy. Nobody wants to have Russia here in Ukraine. “