Ukrainian forces may have gained a tank advantage over the Russian army for the first time since the start of the full-scale war, thanks to the use of drones.
However, this advantage seems limited to certain areas along the vast 1,200-kilometer (800-mile) front line. The claim was reported by Forbes on January 12, citing information from a Russian blogger.
Drones Disrupt Russian Tank Operations
According to the blogger, in areas where Ukraine has deployed two company-sized drone units, each with several dozen operators, Russian tanks are unable to reach the front lines for launching attacks. Instead, they are destroyed by drones miles behind the contact line.
“The enemy has achieved sufficient scale and variety in its drones and has refined its tactics for their use,” the blogger observed.
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Ukrainian tanks, by contrast, are able to advance directly to the front lines and engage Russian forces with their cannons and machine guns.
While Russia continues to rely on its stockpile of shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles, Ukraine benefits from safer airspace due to effective radio jamming systems that neutralize drone threats.
Russian Challenges and Exceptions
The blogger attributed Russia’s weaker drone operations to issues like poor quality control and corruption among its officials.
One exception is in Russia’s Kursk region, where Kremlin forces have deployed fiber-optic drones. These drones use cable-based signals that are immune to traditional jamming techniques, giving Russian units in the area a technological edge.
On January 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of making 2025 a record-breaking year for the development and deployment of drones and other advanced military technologies.
