[A drone flies over the landscape. Photo Credit: Pexels]

Drones have become increasingly instrumental in Ukraine’s war against Russia, and the production of drones in Ukraine has increased more than one-hundredfold since the Russian invasion began in February 2023.

Many military analysts expected Russia to take control of contested airspace early and quickly.

However, Ukrainian defenses have been able to repel Russian air forces from crossing the border for missile strikes, leading to the development of drone technologies that could assist Ukraine in making its stand against Russia.

The increased use of drones during the war has facilitated real time monitoring of military movements and enabled swift artillery and missile attacks.

These drones have not only provided crucial surveillance capabilities but have also been employed as potent weapons, laden with explosives and artillery shells to target Russian forces akin to suicide bombers.

Despite its effect of changing the landscape of combat, drone warfare is not without its challenges for Ukranians.

The success of drone attacks and surveillance is highly dependent on the geographical terrain, with obstructed line of sight hindering communication between drones and operators.

In addition, drones are highly subject to weather conditions, as they cannot be operated in torrid conditions, such as heavy rains, high winds, or extremely low temperatures.

Furthermore, many of the drones are quickly assembled by volunteers using cheap materials that affect the drones’ effectiveness.

Nonetheless, Ukrainian soldiers have found resourceful ways, such as using plastic zip ties and duct tape, to attach batteries and artillery shells to turn cheap commercial drones into lethal weapons.

Russian forces have responded to the drone forces by jamming and disabling them through electronic warfare and increasing their own use of drones in battle.

The Ukrainian government’s reliance on drones has caused it to seek outside help from other nations.

Many of the drones used by the Ukrainian military are obtained through fundraising and donations in support of Ukraine’s “Army of Drones” project launched in July 2022 by the Ukrainian World Congress and Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

“I donated my DJI drone to Ukraine’s war effort against Russia after seeing a website created by the Ukrainian World Congress that allowed people to sell or donate drones to the Ukrainian war effort,” shared Young Jun Kim, an engineer and drone enthusiast.

Kim added, “It makes me a little sad to think that drones are being used in warfare, but I believe that Ukraine needs all the help it can get since I’ve read in many articles that a majority of drones have issues, and there are often issues with video and control links.”

“Although I’m not a proponent of war, drones can be an extremely effective and cost-efficient way to fight a war, and if their use can potentially prevent the loss of lives of Ukrainian soldiers, I am happy to contribute what I can to help,” states Kim.