Ukraine says Russia shifting to small-unit assaults amid drone threat

Russian assault tactics have evolved over the past year, with troops now attacking in smaller groups, sometimes individually, in an effort to penetrate the "kill zone," according to Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Joint Forces Task Force. These smaller units aim to reduce their visibility to drones, which have become a dominant factor on the battlefield.

Trehubov stated that soldiers who successfully navigate the "kill zone" hide in cover to await others, allowing for more organized assaults further into enemy territory. This strategy is a response to the increased deadliness of the land between rear and front lines, largely due to advancements in drone technology by both sides. The reduction in group size is intended to make it harder for drones to detect them.

Consequently, heavy equipment such as tanks are now rarely seen in assault operations, with drones having taken over many of their previous roles. Driving a tank near the front lines makes it an easy target for cheaper drones. Ukrainian mechanized brigades also noted this shift earlier in the spring, with tank crews seldom deploying in the current drone-heavy warfare. The only exceptions for Russia to deploy tanks are when they can provide "mass drone support" or if weather conditions, such as rain or fog, hinder Ukrainian drone operations.