The Russians have made significant advances in drone usage: What’s the danger?
Firsov warns: the enemy is using drones at depths of up to 15 km.
Drones on the frontline
The Russians have made a sharp leap in their use of drones on the front lines. While the enemy previously deployed drones chaotically and over short distances, their UAVs now frequently penetrate 10–15 km deep.
This was reported by Yehor Firsov, chief sergeant of a strike UAV company and former parliamentarian.
“I don’t want to admit it, but the enemy has made significant progress their use of drones. If it used to be just a few units, now it’s on a massive scale. Our sensors detect a huge number of drones in the air. Before, we’d tap into the enemy’s video feed and laugh at how clumsily the occupiers flew — chaotically and just a few kilometers. But systematic enemy flights at depths of 10–15 km are now a reality. And we’re not talking about one or two recorded flights; we’re talking about swarms of drones,” the serviceman noted.
Additionally, the occupiers have intensified their electronic warfare (EW) efforts, which complicates the operation of Ukrainian drones.
“EW systems are causing us even more trouble. The good news is they can be overcome. But it’s a battle for engineering rooms and rnd groups. Overcoming the enemy’s "curtain" (EW disrupting our video) requires time, experiments, procurement, engineering, and soldering. Yelling, nerves, and loud commands from leadership don’t help here. We celebrated the drone revolution. We rejoice when our drones destroy tanks, infantry, and equipment. But videos of them destroying us are, unfortunately, becoming more common. The enemy is also getting more drones,” the report states.
According to Firsov, the number of drones the Russians have is hundreds of times greater than last year.
“Therefore, our main battle must focus on advancing technology. It’s no longer enough to just have a drone. You need a drone infused with the expertise of engineers who’ve made it resistant to EW. At the same time, you need EW systems that suppress the technological solutions of the occupiers’ drones. It’s a daily, complex game of chess. But the advantage will go to those who excel in this organization,” Firsov added.