Drones Replacing Infantry In Ukraine: Shifting Tactics And Strategy

DRONES CONTROLLING SECTIONS OF FRONTLINE WITH NO PERSONNEL

We first observed this dynamic when Russian forces broke through the Dobropillya frontline. Ukrainian media reported that due to severe manpower shortages on certain sectors, defence relied almost entirely on drone teams rather than infantry. Russian sabotage and reconnaissance (DRG) units were able to penetrate the area by systematically neutralising these drone crews in the early phase of the breakthrough, an aspect explored in the next section.

More recently, Ukrainian Sergeant Anton Chyorny, now a training officer, stated that Russia’s Rubicon drone unit can dominate entire villages without deploying personnel on the ground. Both sides are thus employing drones not only as tools of deterrence but also as instruments of territorial control. According to Chyorny, the intensity of Rubicon’s operations prevents Ukrainian troops from leaving trenches or resupplying defensive positions, while Baba Yaga drones are neutralized almost immediately after takeoff. Rubicon’s tactics establish “kill zones” that block reinforcements, enabling Russian troops to advance into villages with minimal resistance.

Ukraine’s manpower shortages remain a critical constraint, which explains why Robert Brovdi, known as Madyar and head of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, is advocating for a “drone wall” designed to inflict up to 35,000 Russian casualties per month. With Ukraine’s rapidly expanding drone industry, more ‘grey zones’ or ‘no man’s land’ areas will emerge. Sectors where movement is entirely observed and controlled by drones. Russia, seeking to conserve its own manpower for sustained offensives, continues to expand its drone warfare capabilities in response to Ukraine’s innovations.

DON’T HUNT THE BIRDS, HUNT THE NESTS

So we can clearly see that with each month, the importance of drones on the battlefield is increasing. There is no clear final answer to the dominance of drones. Each defence has a counter, which is being compounded by growing innovation of drone lethality.

Such so, that on the priority of targets - drone nests and teams are number one by a fair margin. What is a drone nest? Simply put it can be HQ, a command post that has been specifically built deep behind the frontlines - oftentimes in underground bunkers. But drone teams can also setup their nests in abandoned buildings, both in smaller apartment blocks and large buildings that have a good view for observation and elevation.

Sources for deepstate state that Russian tactics are increasingly focused on robotization and drone integration to reduce exposure of assault groups. Small arms battles and frontal assaults have largely been abandoned, with drones now playing a central role in supporting ground troops and conducting precision strikes. More importantly, Operations emphasise encirclement, bypassing fortified positions, and deep penetration into Ukrainian rear areas, where sabotage groups target mortar and drone operator positions.

Evidence from the Dobropillya sector demonstrates how critical this focus on drone teams has become (From research done by ISW). Russian forces reportedly systematically neutralised Ukrainian drone crews before pressing forward, effectively dismantling the defensive screen that had been built around unmanned systems. By eliminating these operators early, Russia created “blind spots” in Ukraine’s defence, isolating combat zones and opening corridors for reconnaissance and sabotage groups to infiltrate. But it should also be noted this operation was planned and gradually carried out months ahead of the perceived ‘sudden’ breakthrough. This was a well-planned operation specifically aimed at drone teams. Thus as both sides adapt, the battle increasingly centres on denying the enemy’s drone operators the time and space to shape the fight.

But note that drone teams have long been hunting each other. Given the internet fame (and loathing) they have gained, they have become prize targets for one another. But what we are witnessing here is a restructuring of tactics on a large scale to hunt them.

Sources: Deepstate ISW Analysis (13th August) SU_57R. (2025, August 15). [Full text of the tweet] [X (formerly Twitter) post]. X.https://x.com/SU_57R/status/1962658663488987512