Ukrainian soldiers are using cost-effective drones to wreak havoc on Russian positions in the Donetsk region.
Mass-Market Mayhem: How Inexpensive Drones Are Redefining Combat Operations In Ukraine
A member of a Ukrainian drone unit at an undisclosed location near the front line in the Donetsk region on June 28.
Both Ukraine and Russia are redefining modern warfare with the use of budget drones in what some are calling the first full-scale drone war.
Ukraine is using small teams of drone operators that are spread out across the front for real-time intelligence and surveillance and, at times, for attacks on Russian positions by dropping small bombs.
A drone operated by the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces is seen in a file photo carrying a Molotov cocktail.
The use of drones in the skies above Ukraine is so common that a recent assessment by a British think tank estimates that Kyiv is losing some 10,000 drones every month.
A Ukrainian operator watches a drone's progress on a small monitor at an undisclosed location on June 28.
As inexpensive drones become more advanced, they are increasingly being integrated into the overall military structure on both sides.
The importance of these drones in providing accurate and up-to-date information on enemy positions and movements is essential for planning and executing military operations.
A Ukrainian drone operator near the front prepares a drone for flight.
Drones can operate in high-risk environments and carry out missions that would be too dangerous or difficult for ground forces or manned aircraft. Additionally, advances in sensors and high-resolution cameras allow drones to operate at night. Their ability to fly in rain, snow, and foggy conditions is still a problem, however.
A drone operator watches as clouds of smoke rise above burning Russian targets near the eastern city of Bakhmut on April 16.
Videos showing Ukrainian drone operators dropping grenades on Russian soldiers or even into the hatches of their armored vehicles have circulated widely on social media.
Both sides are using new techniques to minimize the effectiveness of drones, such as using electronic warfare to scramble their GPS navigation systems.
A small drone is set off for an intelligence-gathering mission along the front line in the Donetsk region.
With small, mass-marketed, budget drones offering significant cost savings compared to traditional military assets, the use of these drones is expected to evolve as they play an increasingly important role in modern warfare.