Now Ukraine is building up its mid-range strike drones thanks to a strategic decision to boost funding for the development and production of such weapons. What’s not clear is if Ukraine can continue to sustain this type of campaign over the longer term.
Kyiv’s offensive has been helped by Starlink’s decision earlier this year to shut off Russian access to its satellite communications system, hampering Moscow’s ability to coordinate both attacks and defense. Ukraine has also systematically degraded Russia’s air defenses, allowing easier access for its attack drones.
“The scale of losses forced the Russian command and the occupation authorities to limit the movement of heavy equipment along the so-called ‘Novorossiya’ highway. The enemy’s attempts to use field and dirt roads for detours are also futile — Ukrainian drones successfully detect and eliminate targets on any terrain,” the Nemesis Brigade added.
Russia accused Ukraine of hitting civilian targets, according to the state-controlled TASS news agency
The drone attacks are part of a broader Ukrainian effort that has seen its military push Russia out of some 590 square kilometers since the beginning of this year — reversing some of Russia’s bloody gains from last year — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement to the nation on May 22. Independent analysts, including ISW and the Centre for Eastern Studies, back the contention that Ukraine is making small battlefield gains.
“Ukrainian positions are really stronger now than in previous years,” Zelenskyy said.
Despite some localized success for Ukraine, the Russian army continues to attack with drones and missiles — hitting major cities and also aiming for logistics targets throughout the country while its forces inch forward in northern and eastern Ukraine. However, Fedorov said that every square kilometer gained by Russia costs about 200 soldiers dead and wounded for the Kremlin.
“Dynamics show that Ukraine has significantly slowed the enemy’s advance and is gradually regaining the initiative. At the same time, we are increasing active operations and liberating territory,” Fedorov said.