(CLO) Russia has just recaptured almost all of Kursk from Ukraine thanks to new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tactics, cutting off supply lines and isolating enemy forces.
For a time, Ukraine controlled about 500 square miles of Russian territory. But after months of limited fighting, Russia retook nearly the entire area in just a few days of full-scale offensives. According to military blogger Russian Engineer, this was due to a “revolution” in UAV tactics, especially targeting Ukraine’s supply lines.
According to Russian Engineer, Russia's unexpected success in recapturing Kursk is attributed to the concentration of UAV firepower and the application of tactics previously developed by Ukraine.
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Video of Russian UAVs attacking Ukrainian targets in Kursk (source: X/forbes)
"Blitzkrieg" tactics using UAVs
Ukraine’s powerful offensive in August 2024 was a Blitzkrieg, or “lightning war,” a term used since the 1930s to describe rapid, sudden attacks that break through enemy lines and continue their advance. It was not armored vehicles but electronic warfare assets and UAVs that were the decisive factor.
Radio reconnaissance detected Russian UAV operating frequencies in the area. When the attack began, these frequencies were heavily jammed by electronic attacks, rendering the Russian reconnaissance UAVs inoperable. This short period of time was enough for Ukraine to deploy attack UAVs, with precise FPV attacks, flying in swarms.
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Video of Russian UAVs attacking Ukrainian targets in Kursk (source: X/forbes)
Thanks to this combination, Ukraine was able to launch its offensive without encountering significant resistance from Russia. Russia could not see Ukrainian forces, could not direct its artillery fire, and could not control its drones. Light unit attacks quickly followed, instead of heavy tank attacks.
Russia's Change
Russia then stabilized the front and stopped the Ukrainian advance by deploying UAV units. In particular, they used new fiber-optic UAVs, FPVs, which are controlled via fiber optic cables instead of radio waves. These aircraft are immune to jamming and can therefore operate more effectively, neutralizing Ukraine’s electronic warfare advantage.
After August 2024, Russia has reintroduced the tactic of what President Zelenskyy called “World War I with drones,” but this time on Russian soil. The way Russia has broken the stalemate is clearly through increasing the number and effectiveness of UAVs.
Russia's Recapture of Kursk: A Victory for UAVs
According to Russian Engineer, the big difference in Russia's victory at Kursk was the shift from quantity to quality in the use of UAVs.
“This revolution was achieved by shifting from quantity to quality in the deployment of UAVs, along with all other forces and support vehicles,” Russian Engineer wrote. “Russian forces have mastered the tactical technique of ‘isolate the battlefield’ using modern means, and drones have cut off the supply lines of Ukrainian forces, leaving them no choice but to retreat.”
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Video of Russian UAVs hunting and attacking Ukrainian targets in Kursk (source: X/Forbes)
The blogger explained that Russian forces in Kursk had trained elite UAV operators to operate fiber-optic UAVs. These aircraft were not used to directly attack Ukrainian combat units, but instead were used to destroy vehicles carrying food, fuel, and ammunition to the front lines. In this way, Russia isolated Ukraine’s frontline forces.
Numerous videos show Russian UAVs attacking, including fiber-optic ambush drones, lying dormant on the side of the road and only activating when Ukrainian vehicles approach. When the Ukrainians are forced to retreat, they are heavily attacked by the UAVs.
Drone Warfare: A Turning Point in Modern Conflict
The UAV attack on Ukraine’s supply lines appears to have been the decisive factor in Russia’s victory at Kursk. Russian Engineer sees the victory at Kursk as the beginning of a new round of mobile conflict, with UAVs playing a central role. UAVs helped break the stalemate that had held both sides, opening up the possibility of faster, more flexible combat.
UAV attacks on supply lines could be the key to future victories, and Ukraine is now building tunnel defenses to protect itself from UAV attacks, reflecting growing concerns about the UAV threat.
Ngoc Anh (according to Independent, Forbes)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chien-thuat-va-ky-thuat-uav-moi-giup-nga-de-dang-chien-thang-tai-kursk-post338987.html
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