FPV Technologies as a New Front in Air Defense: Ukrainian Defender Details Russian Tactics in Zaporizhzhia
The Ukrainian armed forces continue to actively employ unmanned systems, particularly FPV drones, in their efforts to counter relentless enemy attacks and sabotage operations along the Zaporizhzhia front. Commander of the UAV squadron of the separate special-purpose UAV unit of the National Guard, Darya, known by her callsign “Gilka,” shared insights into the combat strategies used in this sector. She highlighted that the frontline lines are almost static — Russian forces conduct reconnaissance and attempt breakthroughs, trying to find weak points in Ukrainian defenses. At the same time, she noted, the enemy constantly refines their tactics of drone deployment, especially now actively using FPV drones to strike Ukrainian air defense assets. She emphasized that Russian forces regularly launch massive “Lightning” drone raids, often accompanied by missile systems like “Supperkam,” “Orlan,” and less frequently, ZALA. Ukrainian defenders work tirelessly to reduce the frequency of such attacks and to preemptively eliminate enemy drones before they hit their targets. Special focus is given to targeting the FPV kamikaze drones, which pose the greatest threat to Ukrainian units by destroying equipment and gathering intelligence. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military units continue to work against enemy equipment; for example, at the end of June, they successfully halted a Russian train convoy. The commander added that Ukrainian soldiers aim to minimize losses and operate where they can effectively engage the enemy, thereby strengthening their defenses and complicating Russian military plans. These new tactics and technological advancements present fresh challenges for Russia and force them to seek increasingly complex solutions in their offensive campaigns. It is also worth noting that according to DeepState analytics, in the last day, Russian troops advanced in the village of Kam'yanske in Zaporizhzhia region, illustrating the unpredictability and difficulty of the current battlefield situation for Ukrainian forces.