Lack of infantry at the front: the Armed Forces replace the soldiers with drones - WSJ
According to Ukrainian officers, at most of the Eastern Front, the number of fighters is not less than 5 to 1. In addition, mobilized men, mostly in the years, do not have motivation and combat experience. When Russian soldiers move to Ukrainian positions, they are directed with explosive drones or discharges. Defense forces fighters open fire only if the Russian soldier manages to slip past the closed line of drones, - WSJ noted.
In some areas without tight construction, Ukrainian drone operators can even independently protect their front line. According to the commander of the battalion of drones of the 60th separate mechanized brigade of the Land Forces, the senior lieutenant with the call sign "Munin", a serious increase in the number of drones made it possible to relieve his unit pressure from the infantry.
If a year earlier on a difficult day, his battalion could run 15 FPV-aules, now, on a normal day, the officer sends at least 60 devices to battle. In addition, many Ukrainian drones, which Ukraine produces about 200 thousand a month, is equipped with chambers with thermal imaging, which allows to identify and stop Russian attacks in the dark. And, according to WSJ, such a strategy of the Ukrainian command works.
For almost a year, the Russian army has been coming to Pokrovsk, but despite the huge advantage in live power and ammunition, it has not been able to capture the city. At the same time, the Munin Combat states that the Russians seem to be "unlimited human resources". They continue to send people forward in small groups in an attempt to slip past Ukrainian drones.
On rainy or foggy days, most drones cannot fly, which enables the Russian army to carry out larger -scale offenses with armored vehicles. In addition, Russian electronic wrestling devices (HRV) are sometimes disrupting Ukrainian drones. And when the leaves appear on the trees again, the Russian infantry will be more difficult to detect with drone.
In addition, the Russians also have their own army of drones, which pose a major threat to both the Ukrainian infantry and the civilians of the frontier cities. The physician who works in the Pokrovska area said WSJ that about 70% of Ukrainian casualties in the area are caused by drones.
According to journalists of the newspaper, it is quite easy to detect Russian infantrymen in open areas, but in cities and villages around Pokrovsk, where more buildings where Russians can hide from drones, infantry are indispensable. "Reduilders can not replace people. They can disrupt the enemy's attack, but not stop it completely," said WSJ the commander of the Battalion of Defense forces of Ukraine, who has been fighting south of Pokrovsk for the last two months.
The fighters of the Defense Forces told reporters that in the Pokrovsky direction, the number of Russians exceed Ukrainians about 10 to 1, but given the growth of drones, and a small replenishment of new soldiers enable them to continue their fight. According to the commander of one of the Ukrainian brigades, at least seven Russian forces have a wounded or killed soldier.
However, according to the officer to completely stop the offensive of the Russian army, Ukraine will need 10 times more troops. We will remind, the commander of the department of unmanned aviation complexes of the battalion "Predators of heights" of 59th separate infantry brigade Alexander told how UAV "Mavik" became an important weapon on the front. In cooperation with artillery, these drones make it possible to destroy up to 400 invaders in four days of duty.