Ukraine gains advantage on battlefield thanks to drones – ISW
Ukrainian forces have gained an advantage over Russian troops in the use of drones on the battlefield, which is likely helping to halt Russia's advance and support recent counterattacks by Ukraine's Armed Forces.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated this in a report, according to Ukrinform.
"Ukraine has markedly increased its mid-range strike campaign against Russian logistics, military equipment, and manpower since late 2025 and particularly in early 2026, which has impeded Russian advances across the theater and is likely also interfering with the Russian spring-summer 2026 offensive," ISW analysts said.
The institute recorded geolocated evidence showing that Ukrainian forces carried out 41 medium-range strikes in January, 61 in February, and 115 in March this year.
"These Ukrainian strikes have largely targeted Russian forces and assets in eastern and southern Ukraine, including near occupied Donetsk City, degrading Russian preparations for offensive operations in recent weeks and months," the report states.
Analysts added that pro-war Russian voices in the information space have also acknowledged Ukraine's success in using drones.
It is noted that Russian officials have repeatedly attempted to spread a false narrative that Ukraine's front line and political stability are supposedly on the verge of collapse, trying to convince the West to concede to Russian demands that Russia cannot achieve militarily.
" Ukraine's recent successes are accomplishing tactical, operational, and strategic battlespace effects that undermine the Russian narrative that the Ukrainian frontlines are on the verge of collapse," the report emphasizes.
ISW also highlighted that the increasing number of Ukrainian strikes on Russian air defense systems and improved effectiveness in intercepting drones have contributed to Ukraine's recent battlefield successes. Interceptor drones are noted to have significant tactical value, as Russian forces rely heavily on drones to weaken Ukrainian defenses, enable their own advances, and hinder Ukrainian progress.
"Ukraine's increasing interceptions of Russian drones are therefore contributing to slowing Russian advances and permitting Ukrainian counterattacks. Ukraine's defensive successes, drone adaptations, and mid-range strike campaign are creating compounding effects that are degrading Russian frontline forces," ISW concluded.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov stated that units involved in the "Drone Line" project are responsible for striking every fourth target on the battlefield, with the initiative already showing systematic results.
According to the minister, the project brings together five of the most effective units identified under the "Army of Drones" system: the 20th Separate Brigade "K-2," the 429th Separate Brigade "Achilles," the 427th Separate Brigade "RAROG," the 414th Separate Brigade "Birds of Madyar," and the 3rd Border Guard Detachment "Phoenix." Their combat experience has formed the basis for deploying the "Drone Line" along the entire front line.