Key facts
- Russian troops are now attacking in small groups or individually to bypass the "kill zone."
- The prevalence of drones has made heavy equipment like tanks a rare sight on the battlefield.
- Russia has largely stopped using tanks or other heavy equipment for assault operations.
- Drones have replaced many of the tanks' roles for both sides.
- The "kill zone" has expanded to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles).
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.