The Times: Russia surges ahead in drone warfare, devastating Ukraine’s frontline

Russia has taken a commanding lead in the drone arms race, deploying a new generation of medium-range and fibre optic First-Person View (FPV) drones that are dramatically reshaping the 1,200 km front line in Ukraine. The advanced drones, often immune to electronic jamming, are inflicting heavy casualties and crippling Ukraine’s ability to resupply its forces, The Times writes in an article. 

The Molniya-1 and Molniya-2 drones, among the most widely used in Russia’s arsenal, have demonstrated a range of up to 20 kilometers or more, allowing operators to strike deep into Ukrainian-held territory, Caliber.Az reports citing the article. 

Adding to the threat are Russia’s fibre optic FPV drones, which are nearly impervious to electronic warfare. These drones are controlled via ultra-thin fibre optic cables spooled beneath the aircraft, providing uninterrupted video feeds and precise maneuverability up to the point of detonation. The system bypasses traditional jamming and detection technologies, posing a new challenge to Ukraine’s air defences.

Both drone types are having a profound psychological and tactical impact on Ukrainian soldiers. With tanks and armoured personnel carriers now easily targeted and destroyed, their use near the front has become rare. The drones have effectively rendered many traditional battlefield strategies obsolete.

In the past week alone, Ukrainian logistical convoys were struck 20 kilometers outside the key defensive city of Kramatorsk in Donbas, underscoring how Russia’s drone advancements are undermining Ukraine’s ability to maintain supply lines and troop movements.

FPV drones emerged as a dominant weapon on both sides of the conflict in 2024, but Russia’s innovations in 2025—especially the introduction of fibre optic guidance—have escalated the threat. These drones now account for more battlefield casualties than any other weapon system.

This also severely restricted media coverage from the front lines. Once known for offering journalists relatively open access, brigades like the 93rd Mechanised Brigade have now scaled back significantly amid growing security concerns.

As drone strikes intensify, particularly within a 15-kilometer radius of the front, many international and local media outlets are now reluctant to send reporters into high-risk zones. The threat posed by Russian FPV and fibre optic drones has made travel by vehicle especially dangerous, deterring both military escorts and press teams.

Ukrainian military units have also become increasingly cautious, with commanders concerned about exposing their troops to unnecessary risk by facilitating journalistic visits. The result is a sharp decline in first hand reporting from the battlefield at a time when transparency and public information are more critical than ever.

By Sabina Mammadli