Written By Victoria Oh
Edited By Isaac Lee
Ukraine vs Russia Conflict
The continuous battle between Ukraine and Russia seemed to put Ukraine at a sliding disadvantage with Russia’s full-scale attack. During the first year, the Russian forces clashed with those of Ukraine in Ukraine's territory along the lines of the eastern and southern parts, and the civilians of Ukraine were met with great danger. The Russian forces launched airstrikes in nonmilitary-based Ukraine territories, where civilians resided. This led to many unnecessary and cruel deaths throughout the country.
Lack of supplies
Furthermore, in the midst of desperation, Ukraine lacked military aid and resources, given that their allies were ambivalent about providing support because doing so may lead to threats and dangers for their own countries; their aid could provoke the Russian army, which would then target allies of Ukraine. These factors prompted Ukraine to invest its time and money into drone warfare, which would later be of huge support.
Why did Ukraine go about its use of drones in war?
Mykhailo Albertovych Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for Innovation, Education, Science, and Technology, advocated the use of drones in Ukraine’s military strategies. While utilizing drone warfare began with volunteers attempting to create prototypes and conduct small tests, the field expanded as they saw many benefits in return through effective combat. According to the Atlantic Council, Ukrainian drones have played a prominent role in their attack system with their ability to strike Russia’s infrastructure, such as oil refineries and storage facilities, precisely. In addition, the cost for a drone to crash into such infrastructure is much more cost-effective than a bomb, given that it would need to be delivered in real-time by a soldier. Their advancements through drones can not only support the safety of the soldiers but are practical as well.
What are some recent advancements in Ukraine’s Drone Warfare?
As we discussed previously about Fedorov’s inclination toward drone warfare, he co-founded BRAVE1, which is a technology development cluster for defense, in early 2023. This company strives to design and develop innovative technologies, including drones, to provide a strong defensive system for the citizens of Ukraine. In addition, the Ukrainian government is looking to allocate as much as $1.3 billion into the 2024 state budget for drones in order to further strengthen their military efforts through drone warfare.
Conclusion
At the beginning of the war, Ukraine's odds of winning seemed near impossible, but with the use of drones and major benefactors in supplies, it is possible to take back their rightful land. Since Ukraine knew they could not beat Russia head-on, they used the versatility of drones, and it paid off successfully. Conclusively, the way drones, often viewed as a toy or for leisurely activities, advanced the military strength of Ukraine in such a successful way shows the great impacts drones have had and will have in the future.
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