Russia’s military follows a two-pronged drone strategy—using small drones at the tactical level against Ukrainian troops and fortifications, and larger ones to supplement air attacks on major cities.
If people in the early 1900s had imagined warfare in 2025, they might have conceived of something similar to the way the Ukraine conflict is presently being fought. Rocket artillery, fast-flying aircraft, missiles, and drones have seen extensive use from both sides in an attempt to achieve victory.
But it is this last weapon—the drone—that has come to dominate the modern battlefield.
Once Lagging in Drone Use, Russia Has Caught Up
According to the intelligence estimates of the British Ministry of Defence, last month the Russian military launched more than 6,000 unmanned aerial systems against Ukraine. That number was a new monthly high in the three-year conflict and surpassed by approximately 600 drones in July’s numbers.
The Kremlin follows a two-pronged drone strategy. First, the Russian forces use drones on a tactical level to attack Ukrainian fortified positions and any targets of opportunity. These attacks are meant to weaken the Ukrainian forces, disrupt their logistics, sap their morale, and make their offensive operations harder.
Second, on a strategic level, the Russian military uses unmanned aerial systems as a supplement for missiles and bombs—attacking Ukrainian urban centers, military installations, and high-value targets. During these attacks, the Russian forces pair suicide drones with cruise and ballistic missiles with the intention to maximize the chances of either, or both, to hit their targets.
“Russian OWA UAS [One Way Attack Uncrewed Aerial Systems] continue to be combined with Russia’s premier missiles in attempts to increase the missiles’ survivability and complicate Ukrainian air defence efforts,” the British Ministry of Defence assessed in its latest intelligence update on the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
Ukrainian air defense commanders often have little time to make critical decisions about which target to engage with their limited means. On Tuesday night alone, the Ukrainians intercepted 32 drones.
“Several daily highs for Russian OWA UAS use were also observed in July 2025, with significant numbers of decoy UAS employed alongside live warhead variants. This has become standard practice for Russia’s attritional air strategy,” the British Ministry of Defence stated.
Despite Ukraine’s highly successful Operation Spiderweb in June, the Russian Aerospace Forces’ Long Range Aviation fleet has maintained a steady operational tempo. In June, the Ukrainian special operators and intelligence officers masterminded the destruction of between 20 and 41 military aircraft, including several strategic bombers used by the Kremlin to attack Ukrainian urban centers and critical infrastructure. However, in July, the Russian military launched at least seven long-range strategic bomber packages, involving more than 70 cruise and ballistic munitions.
Ukrainian Drones Remain Active, Too
Meanwhile, Ukraine also relies on drones to attack Russian targets on the battlefield and behind enemy lines.
“Ukraine continues its own OWA UAS strikes deep in Russian territory, attempting to disrupt Russian military industry and fuel production,” the British Ministry of Defence stated.
Even after the success of Operation Spiderweb, Russian air defenses struggle to defend against Ukrainian unmanned aerial system attacks. Kyiv’s forces
“However, it is likely that Russia will respond to Ukrainian successes both in kind, and with its more destructive LRA fleet, with the Kremlin frustrated by Ukraine’s ability to penetrate its extensive defensive posture,” the British Ministry of Defence concluded.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / ivkovmark.
