Ritter: Ukrainian drone operators are dying quickly, Ukrainian armed forces losing air advantage

Former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter has stated that Ukrainian units are experiencing a severe shortage of drone operators, due in part to heavy losses among them.

In Ritter’s assessment, Ukrainian formations are finding it increasingly difficult to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles effectively: launched drones are quickly detected and destroyed by the enemy, further limiting the Ukrainian armed forces’ capabilities on the battlefield.

Speaking about the broader operational picture, Ritter described the position of Russian forces as stable and growing stronger.

“The Russians are step by step achieving superiority over the Ukrainians tactically, operationally, and strategically. They will continue to advance,” he said.

A similar assessment was previously made by University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer. According to him, Russian forces continue to advance and are gradually expanding their zone of control, while the Ukrainian side faces further weakening.