In Ukraine, the drone war is taking on a new dimension: innovations, countermeasures, and limitations in the face of Russian tactics that are reshaping the battlefield.
Summary
After three and a half years of all-out war, Ukraine faces a rapidly expanding threat from Russian drones. In 2024, Moscow created the Rubikon Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies, capable of rapidly adapting its tactics. Fiber optic drones reduce the effectiveness of Ukrainian jamming and inflict heavy logistical losses. In response, Kiev is relying on unmanned ground vehicles, protective nets, and above all its new Unmanned Systems Force, which has shot down more than 1,000 Shahed and Geran drones thanks to Darknode units. But the cost ratio is worrying: an Iranian drone costs around €140,000, while interception consumes missiles that can sometimes be worth several million. The future lies in the intermediate-range munitions segment, where Ukraine must copy the Russians to threaten their rear. The war is becoming a duel of constant innovation, where every technological advance calls for a countermeasure.
A battlefield redefined by drones
At the start of the invasion, Ukraine had gained the upper hand thanks to its swarms of light armed drones. By combining fixed drones for reconnaissance and kamikaze quadcopters, Kiev had established a 20 km “kill zone” behind Russian lines. This system neutralized armored columns and forced Moscow to advance on foot in small groups. But Russia retaliated. In 2024, a specialized unit systematized these tactics and deployed them on a large scale. Ukrainian forces now find themselves trapped in a lethal zone 20 km behind their front lines. Worse still, the Russians are shooting down Ukrainian reconnaissance drones at a rapid rate, creating tactical “black holes” where their units can maneuver undetected. This loss of visibility weakens Ukrainian defenses and complicates resupply. The dynamic is reminiscent of a classic lesson: in modern warfare, advantage is always temporary and depends on the ability to innovate faster than the adversary.
The Rubikon Center and the Russian drone revolution
Moscow’s main asset is the Rubikon Center, created in August 2024 in Moscow with unusual autonomy for a Russian military structure. Its mission: to design practical solutions to circumvent Ukrainian countermeasures. The most formidable innovation is the use of fiber optic links connecting drones to their operators. This technique eliminates detectable radio emissions and renders Ukrainian electronic jamming systems ineffective. As a result, Ukrainian logistics convoys are regularly destroyed, forcing Kiev to keep its armored vehicles more than 20 km away from the front line. The strategic cost is significant: keeping soldiers supplied with ammunition, fuel, and medical care is becoming a headache. In August 2025, a Russian attempt to break through near Dobropillia illustrated this risk. Although contained, it shows that if Moscow combines technological innovation with human mass, Ukrainian defenses could give way. The creation of Rubikon marks a turning point, transforming drones from a harassment tool into a true integrated battle system.
Ukraine’s adaptation through autonomous ground vehicles
In response to these attacks, the Ukrainian army is experimenting with the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to transport ammunition and supplies to the front line. The objective is clear: to replace drivers with semi-autonomous systems, even if it means sacrificing equipment to save human lives. According to Colonel Andrii Lebedenko, the transition should take less than six months. Ukrainian UGVs, some of which are designed locally, are equipped with simple automated driving functions, such as trajectory tracking and automatic stopping in the event of a breakdown. But this solution remains costly. Each vehicle destroyed represents tens of thousands of euros in losses, a drain on an economy weakened by war. The Ukrainians are also installing corridors protected by anti-drone nets and wire mesh walls. This makeshift method slows down losses but is not foolproof: the Russians breach the defenses with a first drone, then exploit the opening with a second. This race to adapt illustrates the limits of a purely reactive defense.
The creation of the Unmanned Systems Force
Faced with the scale of the challenge, Kiev took an organizational step forward in June 2025 with the creation of the Unmanned Systems Force. It is the world’s first branch of the military entirely dedicated to unmanned systems. It coordinates three levels: short-range drones above the front line, medium-range systems up to 100 km, and long-range attacks. The latter is mainly aimed at Iranian Shahed-136 drones and their Russian copies, Geran-2, launched in swarms against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. With an estimated unit cost of €140,000, these low-cost drones saturate air defenses. Ukraine has responded with Darknode units, capable of shooting down an enemy drone for only €5,000 using simple interceptors connected to the Kolibri RF1. According to Lieutenant Oleksandr Yarmak, these units had already destroyed more than 1,000 enemy drones by September 2025. This efficiency demonstrates that low-cost solutions can reverse the cost/effectiveness ratio, an essential condition for sustaining a war of attrition.
The role of acoustic sensors and civil innovation
Ukraine is also exploiting the creativity of its civilian ecosystem. In 2022, the company Sky Fortress deployed a network of 14,000 acoustic sensors across the country. These sensors, initially based on recycled cell phones, detect the sound signatures of drones and cruise missiles. The signal is then centralized and used to alert local defenses in advance. This inexpensive system contrasts with the Israeli or American approach, which mobilizes interceptors costing several million euros each. Today, Sky Fortress is upgrading its network with new processors to extend its effectiveness. This distributed defense model, based on simple and massive solutions, proves that it is possible to counter saturation attacks without relying solely on sophisticated weaponry. It also offers inspiration for other countries facing threats from inexpensive drones, such as those in the Middle East and North Africa.
The strategic challenges of medium-range combat
While Ukraine has been able to contain the short- and long-range threat, the intermediate segment remains problematic. The Russians are now using drones capable of striking up to 100 km behind the lines, targeting depots, roads, and reinforcements. For the moment, Kiev has no response on this scale. Experts believe that developing an intermediate strike capability is essential. This would allow Russian assembly areas to be attacked before they reach the front line, reversing the current logic. Medium-range loitering munitions or heavier armed drones could provide this response. The challenge is budgetary: each innovation must remain affordable to avoid burdening an already strained war economy. But the need is clear: without action on Russian operational depth, the Ukrainians risk remaining on the defensive.
A war of constant innovation
The drone war in Ukraine illustrates a cruel dynamic: every success is temporary. Kiev innovated with FPV drones, Moscow responded with Rubikon and fiber optics. Ukraine invented Darknode, tomorrow Russia will find a workaround. This cycle of constant innovation forces both sides to mobilize engineers, researchers, and manufacturers in an all-out effort. The consequences extend beyond Ukraine: Western armies are watching this war closely, as it heralds the battlefields of the future. The ability to mass-produce low-cost systems, integrate artificial intelligence, and ensure logistical resilience is becoming central. For Kiev, the battle is being fought as much in laboratories as in the trenches. And the outcome will depend on its ability to maintain a faster pace of innovation than its adversary.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.