The total dominance of drones in the air has fundamentally changed the nature of combat operations in Ukraine. The traditional front line has transformed into a deep "grey zone" where classic mechanized assaults have become impossible, and any concentration of infantry instantly turns into a target.
AFU officer Andrii Dmytrenko discussed this new reality of war with political analyst Yurii Romanenko, commenting on an article by American analyst Michael Kofman.
Romanenko cited conclusions from Western experts who describe the territory 15-20 kilometers behind forward positions as a continuous "Kill Zone." Battlefield equipment now resembles "giant hedgehogs hung with nets and branches," yet even this fails to save it from drone swarms.
Officer Dmytrenko fully confirmed this assessment, noting that armored vehicles have lost their former role in breakthroughs.
"I haven't seen a direct tank battle... since the beginning of 2023. I saw many in '22. That is how much things have changed," the soldier stated. He added that during attempted mechanized attacks involving dozens of units of equipment, usually only one reaches the positions.
Due to the impossibility of using heavy equipment, the Russians are forced to use small-group infiltration tactics. However, in modern warfare, even ten soldiers represent a target that is too large and conspicuous.
"If we see a Russian group of 10 people moving somewhere... for that group, the table is essentially set. That means death with a probability many times higher than if two or three people are moving. Because everything we have, plus our neighbors, will fly at them... usually they survive for an hour, maybe an hour and a half, and that's it," Dmytrenko explained regarding the algorithm of Ukrainian defense.
The situation works the same in reverse—the movement of Ukrainian logistics and infantry is also ruthlessly pursued by enemy operators.
Assessing the sides' drone capabilities, Dmytrenko noted that a certain parity currently exists. Ukraine has an advantage in heavy strike drones (like the "Vampire"), capable of carrying large munitions, which the Russians almost entirely lack. However, the enemy relies on the mass use of FPV drones and reconnaissance assets.
"You look at the battlefield now... especially on a sunny day, and everything glitters, covered in a web of optics. The quantity of drones flying is simply cosmic," the officer said, describing the situation in the sky.
He emphasized that drones are now the primary means of destruction, pushing artillery to the background, as UAVs are capable of flying straight into dugouts or striking targets around trench corners.