Ukraine’s evolving drone strategy has been central to its battlefield success, redefining how modern militaries think about cost, scale, and technology.
A Fleet Under Siege
Since 2022, Ukraine has destroyed or disabled roughly 30 Russian ships and submarines, nearly one-third of the Black Sea Fleet. The Buyan-M loss further accelerated Russia’s retreat. By 2024, Britain’s defense ministry already described the fleet as “functionally inactive.”
Now, the majority of Russia’s vessels operate from Novorossiysk, far from Ukrainian-controlled waters, conceding much of the western Black Sea.
A Russian naval officer was quoted by independent media saying bluntly:
“Large ships have become big targets. They’re liabilities now.”
The FPV Drone: From Hobbyist to Battlefield Weapons
FPV drones, once designed for racing and photography, are now the cornerstone of Ukraine’s unmanned arsenal. Controlled with gaming-style headsets and joysticks, these nimble craft carry explosives directly into armored vehicles, artillery, and now even warships.
