Ukraine is facing a disadvantage in the drone warfare

Ukraine, once leading in the drone warfare during the initial stages of the conflict, has now fallen behind as Russia caught up in the race for innovation. According to a piece by former Google Chairman Eric Schmidt in Foreign Affairs, Kyiv had initially leveraged commercial technologies and innovative weaponry to counter Russia.

However, Russia has adopted similar tactics, including large coordinated drone attacks, and now Kyiv lacks a drone combination to rival Russia’s latest formidable duo – the reconnaissance drone “Orlan-10” and the attack drone “Lancet.”

Since the end of 2022, Russia has been utilizing these domestic drones to effectively target various military assets; from valuable artillery systems to combat aircraft and tanks. Schmidt notes that while Ukraine initially outpaced Russia in drone attacks, the current landscape highlights a shift in favor of Russia. Additionally, Russia’s advanced capabilities in electronic warfare enable the interference and manipulation of signals between Ukrainian drones and their operators. This development marks a significant challenge for Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.