Historian Uhl: Ukraine will face infantry shortages and an “endless drone war”

The conflict in Ukraine will continue for a very long time and could evolve into an “endless drone war” — that is the forecast given by Russia expert and historian Matthias Uhl in an interview with the German outlet Bild.

This is reported by the Polish outlet Interia.

According to Uhl’s assessment, Ukraine is in a “disadvantageous position” in terms of human resources. A shortage of soldiers, and infantry in particular, could become a critical problem for conducting combat operations. Kyiv, the expert said, lacks the manpower to carry out large-scale offensive operations, and the country is dependent on Western weapons and intelligence.

“The situation will most likely deteriorate further. The final step will probably be the mobilization of men between the ages of 18 and 25, who are currently exempt from mandatory military service,” Uhl says.

The expert does not expect the conflict to end soon. He noted that there are many historical examples of wars that dragged on for years despite exhaustion and signs of informal peace — because both sides believed victory was imminent. In the current conflict, Uhl believes, one of the parties may also “realize too late that the end is near.”

“For now, the war of attrition will continue,” he says.

The historian separately addressed the role of drones in modern warfare.

“At present, there appear to be no effective countermeasures against the overwhelming power of drones. They must first be destroyed on the battlefield before a successful offensive can be conducted. Due to the high cost, only lasers or machine guns remain viable options,” Uhl explains.

Speaking about the Russian side, the expert noted that Russia retains the ability to wage armed conflict thanks to its resources. “Despite economic problems and sanctions, the systemic collapse that the West expected has not occurred,” the historian believes.