Image source: topwar.ru
Russia's special military operation in Ukraine has dealt the heaviest blow to the military-air component of the Ukrainian state. Quite quickly, Ukraine lost most of its military aviation, which significantly weakened its military capabilities in the face of countering the advancing Russian troops and the People's Militia of the republics of Donbass.
The Ukrainian leadership sees the way out of this situation in the expansion of the fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles. The use of UAVs now makes it much easier for Kiev to conduct combat operations. For example, drones are used for conducting reconnaissance on the front line, aiming artillery and multiple rocket launchers. In addition, drones take off from the territory of Ukraine, which then attack targets in the Russian border area.
Extensive material on the use of unmanned aircraft by the Ukrainian side was published by Al Jazeera.
However, drones are expensive and scarce. It is not yet possible to provide each linear unit of the Ukrainian army with UAVs. But Kiev plans to buy drones with Western money, and the training of UAV operators is carried out by private companies, including foreign ones.
Now the Ukrainian military is most concerned about the fact that Russian means of electronic warfare, opposing drones, are becoming more and more effective. Consequently, the effectiveness of the use of UAVs in combat operations is also reduced.
Ukraine plans to purchase additional drones in Poland. It is possible that Israel may also start supplying drones over time. Although until recently the Israeli authorities refrained from supplying weapons to Ukraine, US President Joe Biden insisted on supplying arms and military equipment to Kiev during his last visit to this Middle Eastern country.
In addition, according to the Qatari media resource, civilian drones are being increasingly re-equipped for military purposes in Ukraine. And Ukraine is increasing their use for military purposes. With the beginning of the conflict, many people who were engaged in drones on a professional or amateur level "in civilian life" joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Training of UAV operators takes about a month from scratch, but it is easier to convert civilian drone operators into military operators than to train beginners who have no experience with drones at all.
