The war in the Donbas and other fronts has undergone fundamental changes. The Ukrainian defense forces have seized the strategic initiative in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Drones have ceased to be an auxiliary reconnaissance tool, transforming into the primary instrument for the systematic destruction of enemy logistics and artillery.
This was stated by Ivan Kirichevsky, a soldier of the 413rd Special Operations Forces Regiment "Reid" and a weapons expert, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine. According to him, Ukrainian operators are not only effectively using the equipment but have completely changed the tactics of conducting hostilities.
Mirror Zone of Engagement
According to the expert, drones allow Ukrainian troops to create a "mirror zone of engagement" with a depth of 10 to 15 kilometers. This significantly limits the capabilities of the Russian army, which previously relied on the massive use of artillery as its main strength.
"We have seized from the Russians not just the initiative in using drones, but the strategy of how to turn a drone itself into a tool of success on the battlefield," emphasized Kirichevsky.
Thanks to this tactic, Ukrainian units are successfully hindering the supply of troops and ammunition to the front line. Under attack are not only small trucks but also heavy transport and railway locomotives, destroyed at a significant depth from the front line.
Destroying Equipment and Foiling Attacks
The effectiveness of the new strategy is confirmed by specific combat episodes. In mid-November, on the border of the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, soldiers of the "Reid" regiment foiled an attempt at a mechanized assault by Russian occupiers.
During the operation, rare Russian T-80BV tanks were destroyed. This equipment featured specific protection and visually resembled "porcupines," but it proved defenseless against the power of drones.
Results of the "Reid" Regiment
In less than two years of existence, the "Reid" regiment has demonstrated impressive results. According to Ivan Kirichevsky, the unit has struck no less than 7,000 enemy targets. The expert notes that these indicators, both quantitatively and in terms of status, exceed the achievements of the Russian "Rubicon" unit, which was previously actively promoted in Russian media.
The Human Factor
The turning point in the drone war and the accumulation of a positive effect were the result of systematic work at all levels over the last nine months or a year. However, according to Kirichevsky, the key factor of success is not so much the technologies themselves, but the people.
"Ukraine is currently demonstrating success in using drones on the battlefield not because the corresponding technologies were invented, but because there are corresponding willful people who, so to speak, can turn any drone into a deadly tool," summarized the serviceman.