In a recent interview with Ukrainian TV channel Espresso, Yuri Fedorenko, the commander of a battalion of combat drones in the Ukrainian Armed Forces (VSU), highlighted the advantage that Russia holds in terms of the quantity and deployment of FPV-drones in the conflict zone. This advantage is attributed to Russia’s greater availability of resources.
According to Fedorenko, the VSU cannot afford to use the same number of FPV-drones as the Russian side, which reportedly has up to 50 drones per group (the size of the group is not specified). He also noted that the Russian side has the capability to keep their drones in the air constantly, almost on standby, while the Ukrainian side has to use them more selectively due to the logistical challenges of recharging the drones.
“When we operate an FPV-drone, the target we see must be precisely confirmed by another reconnaissance UAV… Additionally, we also choose a backup target that is of lower priority,” Fedorenko explained.
This revelation comes after the Russian army recently employed new long-range drones called “Italmas” in the conflict zone.
It is worth mentioning that Russia has previously developed a new system for drone suppression.
This information sheds light on the technological advantage that Russia holds in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the challenges faced by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in effectively countering Russian drone operations. The use of FPV-drones by the Russian side has allowed them to have a constant surveillance presence, while the Ukrainian side has to carefully select their targets and prioritize their use due to logistical limitations. This underscores the need for Ukraine to further develop its own drone capabilities and seek assistance from its allies in countering the Russian threat. The use of drones in modern warfare has become increasingly prevalent, and their impact on the battlefield cannot be underestimated.
