Glide bombs are main threat near Lyman, while ambush drones “significantly changed battlefield picture,” brigade officer says (VIDEO, MAP)

Russian glide bombs and ambush drones have emerged as the main threats to Ukrainian defenders near Lyman, according to Army Inform. While infantry assaults have become easier to repel, aviation strikes cause the heaviest damage to positions. 

With the front largely static, both armies focus on disrupting each other's logistics using drones, while Russia simultaneously bombs frontline cities to rubble.

KABs inflict heaviest damage as infantry tactics show little change

Army Inform reports that Russian forces bombard Ukrainian positions with KAB guided bombs and attack with various drone types on the Lyman direction in northwestern Donetsk Oblast. Maksym Bilousov, head of communications for the 60th Separate Mechanized Ingul Brigade, described the situation during an Army TV broadcast.

Russian infantry attack tactics, however, have not changed dramatically, Bilousov said. Earlier, the enemy attempted assaults with larger-than-usual groups of up to ten troops. Ukrainian mortar fire and brigade artillery effectively destroyed these formations. 

Moscow's aviation strikes now pose the greatest danger to defenders. KAB guided bombs cause the most severe damage to Ukrainian positions. Electronic warfare units provide the main countermeasure against this threat, according to the officer.

"All hope rests on EW (electronic warfare, - Ed.) units that knock them off course so the bombs fall somewhere in a field," Bilousov explained.

Multiple drone types add constant pressure

Close-range strike іекшлу drones present another serious problem for Ukrainian defenders. Russian forces deploy Kub, Lancet, Molniya, and Molniya-2 systems against positions near Lyman. FPV drones and drones carrying drop munitions remain constant threats as well.

Ambush drones have dramatically changed the battlefield picture. Known as "zhdun" — meaning "the waiting one" in both Russian and Ukrainian — these weapons wait along roads to strike logistics convoys and personnel.

"The zhdun drones have really changed the picture on the battlefield, specifically by hitting our logistics," Bilousov said. "But we use them against Russians too. They take something from us, and we likewise take their innovations."

Video: Ukrainians destroy ambush drones at night

Ukraine's East military grouping released a combat footage on 30 January, showing the Signum unit drone pilots destroying several Russian drones lying in wait along roads.

"In darkness, the enemy tries to act quietly, placing ambush drones along roads. They wait for a target to strike vehicles or personnel by surprise," the Skhid grouping commented. "Enemy drones waiting for their victims were destroyed before they could complete their mission."