“Drones, drones, drones. Only drones. So many of them.” These words, spoken by a fatigued Ukrainian platoon commander while being evacuated from the front lines, sum up the dramatic transformation of modern warfare along Ukraine’s eastern front. The battlefield is now saturated with unmanned aerial vehicles—kamikaze drones, surveillance drones, bomber drones, and even drones built to destroy other drones. These UAVs are everywhere—relatively inexpensive, deadly, and central to Ukraine’s efforts to fend off Russia’s advances. Ukrainian commanders, officials, and arms manufacturers say drones are a key reason the country believes it can continue resisting Russian forces this year and beyond.

Stretching approximately 10 kilometers on either side of the front, a corridor heavily watched and attacked by drones from both sides is now ominously known as the “kill zone.” There, drones swiftly locate and eliminate targets. This evolution into the most drone-intensive conflict in history has eroded Russia’s traditional battlefield strengths—its superior numbers of troops, artillery, and armored vehicles. Large military vehicles have become easy marks, forcing Russia to abandon the sweeping armored advances that marked earlier stages of the war. As Oleksandr Dmitriev, founder of the drone coordination system OCHI, put it: “The enemy sees everything. It doesn’t matter where you go or what you drive.”

Adapting to the new reality, Russian forces have changed tactics. According to Ukrainian commanders, they now often move in small teams of five or six soldiers, using motorbikes or quad bikes. These groups try to provoke Ukrainian fire to reveal their positions—making them vulnerable to immediate drone retaliation. Russia’s Ministry of Defence did not comment on these changes, but analysts confirm that Russian troops continue to make slow gains in Ukraine’s east and north. Meanwhile, Russia has also caught up in drone manufacturing after initially lagging behind, and is now producing UAVs by the millions each year, much like Ukraine.

On the diplomatic front, European leaders are still digesting former President Donald Trump’s recent proposal: the U.S. would send weapons to Ukraine via NATO, but Europe would foot the bill. Details remain unclear—how much aid, what kind, how quickly it would arrive, and how payment would be managed. The White House has not responded, but Trump’s spokesperson claimed he aims to end the war and stop the bloodshed, pushing arms sales to NATO while threatening tough sanctions on Russia. Interviews conducted before Trump’s announcement show that many Ukrainian officials and commanders still believe they can continue fighting even without further U.S. assistance. They attribute their resilience largely to drone technology and increasing military support from Europe. Zelensky adviser Oleksandr Kamyshin stated confidently, “We can hold out for months.” He noted that in previous years, such as 2023 or 2024, Ukraine’s endurance would’ve been measured in mere days or weeks.

However, Ukrainian forces are still on the defensive. Military analyst Konrad Muzyka noted that Ukraine’s current strategy is focused on exhausting Russian attacks rather than launching its own offensives. He warned that despite drones’ value, they can't fully replace artillery or mortar fire. Delivering the same destruction as an artillery shell might require dozens of drones. On the front lines, drones have become the most feared threat. Reconnaissance UAVs—small, lightweight aircraft made of plastic or foam—hover high above, tracking enemy movements in real-time. They guide fleets of bomber drones and kamikaze UAVs toward their targets: tanks, troops, and weapons systems.

Platoon commander Ivan, also known by the call sign "Atom," emphasized that drones now pose a bigger danger than shells, mines, or even ground troops. His medic, Olga Kozum, agreed, saying most injuries treated on the battlefield now come from drone attacks. Internal Ukrainian data supports this: as of 2024, 69% of strikes against Russian troops and 75% of those on vehicles and equipment came from drones. Artillery accounted for just 18% and mortars for even less. This rapid militarization of drone technology has led to major innovation on both sides. Fiber-optic-controlled drones, immune to electronic jamming, are increasingly used. So are “interceptor” drones designed to hunt down and destroy enemy UAVs. Ukraine also plans to manufacture 30,000 long-range drones this year—capable of striking targets deep within Russian territory, including weapons depots and energy infrastructure.

Former Ukrainian drone force commander Vadym Sukharevskyi said these drones, which cost between $50,000 and $300,000, are a fraction of the cost of traditional missiles. Though they carry smaller warheads, they provide a valuable offensive option. “This is our asymmetric answer,” he said, explaining that Ukraine began developing such drones due to a lack of missiles. Kamyshin agreed, stressing that “you can’t win a big war by only defending.” He called long-range drone strikes one of Ukraine’s key strategic tools. Ukraine is also rapidly expanding its own defense industry. According to President Zelensky, domestically produced weapons and equipment—mostly drones—now make up 40% of what the military uses. He aims to push that figure to 50% within six months. As reliance on Western aid becomes riskier, Ukraine is also looking to Europe, where support has increased significantly.

According to the Kiel Institute in Germany, European military aid has recently surpassed American contributions for the first time since June 2022—reaching €72 billion compared to the U.S.’s €65 billion. The shift happened largely in March and April, when U.S. support stalled but European nations ramped up their commitments. While the U.S. has been the main supplier of artillery shells, Europe is expanding its production and sourcing. Out of 420,000 shells delivered to Ukraine in early 2025, only 160,000 came from the United States. Ukraine itself manufactured about 2.4 million shells this year, though mostly for shorter-range mortars. Still, Ukraine remains deeply dependent on American air defenses and intelligence. Patriot missile systems are particularly critical; Ukraine currently has just seven of the 25 requested systems, which are capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Moreover, long-range drone and missile attacks rely heavily on U.S. satellite data. European nations could not fully replace that level of intelligence if Washington stopped sharing it.