British intelligence has identified a pivotal event that has reshaped the nature of the war in Ukraine

British intelligence has identified the extensive use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a key factor that has significantly transformed the dynamics of Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to a review published by the UK Ministry of Defence on X (formerly Twitter).

Key Points from the Review:

• Russian Drone Attacks: The widespread deployment of strike UAVs has likely allowed Russia to rebuild its fleet of long-range bombers and restock its supply of cruise and ballistic missiles. This has placed increasing strain on Ukraine’s air defenses, making them more complex and difficult to manage.
• Targeting Ukraine’s Infrastructure: Using this combination of UAVs and missiles, Russia continues to target critical infrastructure and air bases in Ukraine. British intelligence predicts such attacks will persist through the winter as Russia attempts to break the will of the Ukrainian people.
• Ukrainian Counteroffensives: In mid-to-late September, Ukraine successfully used drones to strike military targets deep inside Russia, including four strategic ammunition depots located hundreds of kilometers from Ukraine. This led to Russia and North Korea’s largest loss of supplied ammunition since the war began.
• Russia’s Vulnerabilities: These strikes highlighted Russia’s inability to protect strategic military sites from Ukrainian drone attacks.
• Air Superiority Issues: Despite having technological and numerical superiority, Russia has failed to achieve air superiority in the 1,000 days since the full-scale invasion began. Instead, it has resorted to using tactical aviation, such as Su-34 aircraft, as aerial artillery.

Black Sea Fleet Losses

British intelligence also noted that Ukraine’s successful operations against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet have resulted in the destruction of approximately 25% of its major vessels, including its flagship, forcing the fleet to retreat to the eastern part of the sea.

Broader Observations

The review further highlighted a decline in the quality of Russia’s armed forces since the start of the full-scale invasion, emphasizing the growing impact of Ukraine’s innovative strategies, including the effective use of drones, on the battlefield.

Read also: Putin not to give Ukrainians, Europeans any Christmas break – Baerbock