Ukrainian soldiers say UAVs help artillery shells increase accuracy by 250%

Ukrainian soldiers said using UAVs to support artillery fire helped them increase the accuracy of their shots by 250%.

Ukrainian forces along the front line, including in the Avdeevka area, have been forced to adapt and find new tactics to cope with the shortage of artillery shells. One tactic is to combine artillery with drone operators to aim more accurately with limited ammunition.

A Ukrainian artilleryman fighting on the outskirts of the city of Avdeevka, Donetsk region, said on February 2 that the accuracy of his shots increased by 250% when he coordinated with the UAV operator.

"Due to the constant shortage of ammunition, we were forced to learn to shoot more effectively than usual. We did this," said the Ukrainian soldier.

UAVs are now an important part of Russian and Ukrainian artillery units. They seek out targets such as tanks, armored vehicles or fortifications, and help correct the trajectory of their fire to increase accuracy. UAVs also help conserve ammunition, allowing commanders to see how much damage the enemy has sustained and whether they need to open fire again.

Ukrainian soldiers carry ammunition for a CAESAR self-propelled artillery system near the city of Avdeevka, Donetsk region, May 2023. Photo: Reuters — Ukrainian soldiers carry ammunition for a CAESAR self-propelled artillery system near the city of Avdeevka, Donetsk region, May 2023. Photo: *Reuters*

Ukraine currently relies heavily on Western arms and ammunition. However, the current major US military aid package has yet to be approved by the country's Congress.

"On average we fire 15 rounds a day. There are days when we fire more than 100 rounds, and other days when we don't fire at all," said one Ukrainian soldier. "The enemy is increasing the intensity of their attacks, and we have less shells than before."

The Ukrainian army is currently unable to fire more than 2,000 shells a day. Meanwhile, Russian forces outnumber their opponents in terms of artillery barrages. "In different areas and stages of the fighting, the Russian artillery fired 5-10 times more shells than we did," Ukrainian soldiers said.

While waiting for aid from the West, the Ukrainian military is trying to increase its artillery production capacity, but this is not easy. The Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kamyshin, said that the war between his country and Russia is so large that the total capacity of its partners and allies is not enough to support Ukraine's needs.

The Russian military is believed to be able to re-equip its forces more effectively thanks to its significant advantages in the defense industry, materials and manpower. Despite significant losses, Russia can continue to advance because it can produce up to 100 tanks per month to replace those lost in combat.