War in Ukraine: Syrskyj: Drones are becoming increasingly important

Drones are increasingly becoming an indispensable part of modern warfare, according to Ukrainian commander-in-chief Olexander Syrskyj. “I am also monitoring the dynamics of increasing the effectiveness and survivability of our unmanned systems,” Syrskyj wrote on Telegram after a meeting with the commanders of Ukraine’s drone units.

In December of the previous year alone, the soldiers of the drone units fought 54,000 Russian targets. Almost half of this was due to operations by so-called kamikaze drones.

At the meeting with the drone commanders, high-tech developments in air defense and electronic warfare and their application on the battlefield, as well as combating the latest models of enemy equipment, were discussed, Syrskyi reported. According to him, further Ukrainian units should be reinforced with drone units. “We are finalizing the concept of a separate brigade and its typical structure, and we are on the home stretch,” Syrskyj announced a separate drone brigade.

Ukraine is increasingly relying on drones

The Ukrainian military leadership had already decided in 2023 to increasingly rely on drones in the fight against the Russian armed forces. In October of the previous year, the completion and delivery of one million unmanned missiles in various versions was reported to the army. The unmanned aircraft are not only relatively easy and quick to produce, they can also be used without great risk because soldiers do not have to risk their own lives.

The Ukrainian defense industry and the private sector supply unmanned aerial vehicles from simple video drones for reconnaissance flights to combat drones to long-range kamikaze drones that can be used against targets deep in the Russian hinterland. Remotely controlled maritime drones, speedboats loaded with explosives, are also part of the Ukrainian arsenal.