Drones are an effective defense, but only when the weather is clear. Ukraine has too few infantry to fill in when its drones can’t see.
From: Euromaiden Press BY DAVID AXE
- Ukraine has a drone edge, but fog can blunt that edge—by blinding the drones
- Smart Russian commanders wait for foggy days to attack
- Bad weather over Pokrovsk in recent days has allowed hundreds of Russians to advance
- Ukraine has too few infantry to plug the drone gaps
The overcast and foggy weather that rolled in with the winter months is an opportunity for Russian forces to rush infantry and vehicles across the drone-patrolled no-man’s-land and secure new positions in Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and other contested settlements.
That’s because bad weather means poor visibility for drones—and drones are now the main means of defense for infantry-starved Ukrainian formations.
If the drones can see, the Russians struggle to advance. If the drones can’t see, the Russians advance quickly—and in large numbers.
This was dramatically evident this weekend. “During recent days, the Russians have intensified efforts to penetrate Pokrovsk on light equipment through the southern suburbs,” the Ukrainian 7th Rapid Response Corps, which defends Pokrovsk and neighboring Myrnohrad, explained on social media on Tuesday.
“For this, the enemy used adverse weather conditions, including thick fog,” the corps added. “This reduces opportunities for our aerial reconnaissance.”
How fog blinds Ukrainian drone defenses in Pokrovsk
Videos from Pokrovsk during the stretch of bad weather depict dozens of Russian troops motoring into the city on bikes and in compact cars and trucks. Yes, videos also depict some Ukrainian drone strikes on the intruding Russians—but too few and too slow to halt the Russian advance.
“There are currently more than 300 Russians in the city,” the 7th Rapid Response Corps warned. “Their goal remains unchanged—to reach the northern borders of Pokrovsk with a further attempt to surround the agglomeration.”
Voice of Ukraine 