Drone warfare in Ukraine has fundamentally reshaped frontline tactics, a drone battalion officer told ArmyInform. The kill zone — the drone-saturated space around the contact line — has grown many times beyond the 3-5 km it spanned in 2023-24. Drones now replace infantry and vehicles for logistics, strikes, and remote mining across the depth of the battle area.
From Vinnytsia missile strike to the frontline
Maksym, call sign "Rumyn," is deputy company commander of the Phobus unmanned systems battalion, 46th Separate Airmobile Brigade of Ukraine's Airborne Assault Forces. He enlisted in August 2022 after Russia's missile strike on central Vinnytsia killed dozens of civilians, including children. He entered drone work by accident — asked whether he played computer games, handed a controller, and sent to an FPV pilot school after accidentally flying a training drone into his battalion commander's car.
When Maksym returned from training, the counteroffensive had begun. His first strike hit an armored vehicle that had brought Russian infantry to assault a treeline. He flew FPV for around a year. His most significant kill came when his unit received orders to finish off a T-90 Proryv tank that was already on its side — possibly from a mine, but still operational. One FPV later, the tank burned. The footage circulated on social media.
The kill zone expands — drones fill every role
Maksym now trains recruits rather than flying himself. His Phobus battalion runs reconnaissance wings, heavy night bombers, and FPV on optics — and none of those systems works alone. Against strong cover, ten FPV strikes may achieve nothing. One bomber sortie — carrying tens of kilograms of explosives against FPV's 1.5-5 kg — does more.
"If the cover is very strong, you can strike ten times with FPV. There will be no result. But one bomber sortie gives more."
Turning point: Russia is now losing more soldiers in Ukraine each month than it recruits
The kill zone has pushed logistics underground as well. In 2023-24, units could drive into range on nerve alone. In 2026, approaching within 5 km of the contact line is "a lottery." Heavy drones and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) now carry supplies where vehicles no longer can.
"It's cheaper, more efficient, and safer to send a UGV or deliver by heavy drone to infantry positions," Maksym said.
Remote mining by drone has become a decisive tool. A recent operation stopped a Russian armored assault outright — drone-laid mines destroyed two armored vehicles before they reached their objective. The infantry inside then came under drone fire from Maksym's unit and adjacent battalions.
"Drones work 24/7, all 365 days a year," he said.
His philosophy is simple:
"We can always storm a treeline. But it's better to just take it apart with a Vampire. It's much safer."
