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Miami Herald
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Ukraine Destroys Russian Ship in Black Sea Fleet-Video
Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian vessel, part of its Black Sea Fleet, Kyiv said. A video published by Ukraine's Ministry of Defense shows the moment the vessel was struck while moving along the western coast of the Kherson region. Newsweek reached out to the Russian government for comment by email. The loss claimed by Kyiv marks the latest blow served to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which has been targeted throughout President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Successful Ukrainian drone and cruise missile strikes on the vessels have resulted in Russia relocating some of its prized Black Sea Fleet from its port in annexed Crimea to avoid further losses. The vessel was transporting landing troops when it was struck by Ukrainian forces. "Another russian Black Sea Fleet boat with enemy troops onboard - destroyed while moving along the western coast of Kherson region," Ukraine's defense ministry announced on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday. The Defense Ministry shared a video of the attack, which was filmed by the Ukrainian Navy. The 25-second aerial clip, shot at night, purportedly shows the moment the Black Sea Fleet vessel was struck, causing a huge blaze to erupt on board. Smoke can be seen billowing from the boat immediately after the strike. The Ukrainian Navy also said on X: "Naval forces destroyed 20 'Shaheds' and 1 Russian Black Sea Fleet boat Last night, using the forces and means of the Ukrainian Navy, 20 enemy kamikaze drones 'SHAHED-136' were shot down and 1 Russian Black Sea Fleet boat was destroyed." According to Euromaidan Press, an independent English-language news website launched in 2014 by volunteers from Ukraine, the latest destroyed vessel marks the 28th Russian ship or boat taken out by Ukraine since the start of Putin's full-scale invasion, including Russia's flagship cruiser Moskva. The Moskva missile cruiser, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, was destroyed by Ukraine in the early days of the war, dealing an embarrassing blow to Putin. Russia is now racing to build a vessel that dwarfs the Moskva, according to Ukrainian military publication Defense Express, which published satellite images in April showing the progress Russia is making on one of its two Project 23900 Ivan Rogov-class amphibious assault ships. These vessels are reportedly capable of carrying up to 90 pieces of military equipment, including 15 helicopters. The Ivan Rogov-class vessel currently under construction is reportedly much larger, suggesting that Moscow aims to restore its naval credibility amid a string of losses suffered by the Black Sea Fleet during the war. The U.K. Ministry of Defence said in February that Ukraine had "significantly degraded" the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Ukrainian Navy Commander Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa said of the hit: "Thanks to our naval forces for a job well done. Together to victory!" The U.K. Ministry of Defence said in February: "Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia's leadership almost certainly perceived the Russian Federation Navy and the Black Sea Fleet as integral components of their maritime power. After three years of war, Russia's naval capabilities in the Black Sea have been significantly constrained through highly effective Ukrainian operations. "Since 24 February 2022, Ukrainian forces have destroyed or damaged at least 24 Russian vessels operating in the Black Sea. This includes the sinking of the Black Sea Fleet flagship, Slava-Class cruiser 'MOSKVA', which had previously been described as a cutting-edge air defence platform." The U.K. Ministry of Defence has warned that Russia's Black Sea Fleet, despite being limited at present to the Eastern Black Sea, "retains the ability to conduct long-range strikes into Ukraine in support of land operations." Moscow and Kyiv will continue to trade blows with few signs of a peace deal in the near future. Related Articles Donald Trump Nobel Peace Prize Nomination WithdrawnRussian Newspaper Gives Donald Trump New NicknamePutin Sending Dead Russian Soldiers to Ukraine To Hide Losses: ZelenskyVladimir Putin Issues Warning of New War 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Ukraine Destroys Russian Ship in Black Sea Fleet—Video
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian vessel, part of its Black Sea Fleet, Kyiv said. A video published by Ukraine's Ministry of Defense shows the moment the vessel was struck while moving along the western coast of the Kherson region. Newsweek reached out to the Russian government for comment by email. Why It Matters The loss claimed by Kyiv marks the latest blow served to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which has been targeted throughout President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Successful Ukrainian drone and cruise missile strikes on the vessels have resulted in Russia relocating some of its prized Black Sea Fleet from its port in annexed Crimea to avoid further losses. A Ukrainian serviceman holds a MANPADS "Stinger" anti-aircraft weapon while patrolling in the northwestern part of the Black Sea on December 18, 2023. A Ukrainian serviceman holds a MANPADS "Stinger" anti-aircraft weapon while patrolling in the northwestern part of the Black Sea on December 18, 2023. ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP/Getty Images What To Know The vessel was transporting landing troops when it was struck by Ukrainian forces. "Another russian Black Sea Fleet boat with enemy troops onboard — destroyed while moving along the western coast of Kherson region," Ukraine's defense ministry announced on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday. The Defense Ministry shared a video of the attack, which was filmed by the Ukrainian Navy. The 25-second aerial clip, shot at night, purportedly shows the moment the Black Sea Fleet vessel was struck, causing a huge blaze to erupt on board. Smoke can be seen billowing from the boat immediately after the strike. Another russian Black Sea Fleet boat with enemy troops onboard — destroyed while moving along the western coast of Kherson region. 📹: Ukrainian Navy — Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 24, 2025 The Ukrainian Navy also said on X: "Naval forces destroyed 20 'Shaheds' and 1 Russian Black Sea Fleet boat Last night, using the forces and means of the Ukrainian Navy, 20 enemy kamikaze drones 'SHAHED-136' were shot down and 1 Russian Black Sea Fleet boat was destroyed." According to Euromaidan Press, an independent English-language news website launched in 2014 by volunteers from Ukraine, the latest destroyed vessel marks the 28th Russian ship or boat taken out by Ukraine since the start of Putin's full-scale invasion, including Russia's flagship cruiser Moskva. The Moskva missile cruiser, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, was destroyed by Ukraine in the early days of the war, dealing an embarrassing blow to Putin. Russia is now racing to build a vessel that dwarfs the Moskva, according to Ukrainian military publication Defense Express, which published satellite images in April showing the progress Russia is making on one of its two Project 23900 Ivan Rogov-class amphibious assault ships. These vessels are reportedly capable of carrying up to 90 pieces of military equipment, including 15 helicopters. The Ivan Rogov-class vessel currently under construction is reportedly much larger, suggesting that Moscow aims to restore its naval credibility amid a string of losses suffered by the Black Sea Fleet during the war. The U.K. Ministry of Defence said in February that Ukraine had "significantly degraded" the Russian Black Sea Fleet. What People Are Saying Ukrainian Navy Commander Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa said of the hit: "Thanks to our naval forces for a job well done. Together to victory!" The U.K. Ministry of Defence said in February: "Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia's leadership almost certainly perceived the Russian Federation Navy and the Black Sea Fleet as integral components of their maritime power. After three years of war, Russia's naval capabilities in the Black Sea have been significantly constrained through highly effective Ukrainian operations. "Since 24 February 2022, Ukrainian forces have destroyed or damaged at least 24 Russian vessels operating in the Black Sea. This includes the sinking of the Black Sea Fleet flagship, Slava-Class cruiser 'MOSKVA', which had previously been described as a cutting-edge air defence platform." What Happens Next The U.K. Ministry of Defence has warned that Russia's Black Sea Fleet, despite being limited at present to the Eastern Black Sea, "retains the ability to conduct long-range strikes into Ukraine in support of land operations." Moscow and Kyiv will continue to trade blows with few signs of a peace deal in the near future.
Euronews
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Russian troop losses in Ukraine surpass the 1 million mark, Kyiv says
Russia has lost more than 1 million troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Thursday. The figure — which reportedly comes out to 1,000,340 — includes killed, wounded or incapacitated Russian troops. According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,933 tanks, 22,786 armored fighting vehicles, 51,579 vehicles and fuel tanks, 29,063 artillery systems, 1,413 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,184 air defense systems, 416 airplanes, 337 helicopters, 40,435 drones, 3,337 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine. 'The overall losses of the Russian occupying forces in manpower since the beginning of the full-scale invasion have reached 1 million,' Ukraine's General Staff stated. 'More than 628,000 occurred in just the past year and a half.' Releasing the report on Thursday, Ukraine's General Staff said that the one-million mark is not just a statistic but a symbol of resistance and resilience. 'One million. That's how much the enemy's offensive potential has diminished,' the General Staff wrote. '1 million who could have destroyed us, but whom we destroyed instead.' The statement went on to highlight the symbolic meaning behind this figure, referencing the sites of Moscow's defeats and losses in Ukraine, "in the Red Forest near Chernobyl, in the waters of the Dnipro near Antonivsky Bridge, in Donbas and Kharkiv region. And the the bottom of the Black Sea, where the cruiser Moskva sank." 'This million neutralised occupiers is our response. Our memory of Bucha, Irpin, Kupyansk, Kherson... About the bombed-out maternity hospital in Mariupol and the Okhmatdyt hospital in Kyiv destroyed by a Russian missile. About the tears of children, civilians shot dead, and destroyed homes.' Kyiv also expressed gratitude to every Ukrainian soldier who contributed to the fight, reaffirming that "every eliminated occupier is another step toward a just peace." 'Today, we've taken more than a million such steps.' the General Staff concluded. Ukraine started publicly tracking and publishing Russian losses on 1 March 2022, when the count stood at 5,710 killed and 200 captured. Ever since, the losses have been increasing every year. In 2022, Russia lost 106,720 troops, averaging 340 per day, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces. In 2023, the losses more than doubled to an average of 693 per day and 253,290 troops. In 2024, daily losses crossed the 1,000 threshold and totalled at 430,790 troops. This year, Russia has been losing on average 1,286 troops per day. Ukraine's General Staff numbers are in line with the estimates of Ukraine's western allies. At the beginning of April, Deutsche Welle reported that according to a senior NATO official Russia's losses surpassed 900,000 troops, including 250,000 deaths, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Ukraine and Russia do not publicly disclose their losses. In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed on the battlefield since early 2022. He also said nearly 380,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been injured and "tens of thousands" remained either "missing in action" or being held in Russian captivity. Russia's plan in its ongoing all-out war on Ukraine is to take Odesa and continue to Moldova and Romania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told southeastern European leaders at a summit in the Black Sea port city on Wednesday. 'Russia's war plans target this region, Odesa. Then they are targeting the borders with Moldova and Romania. Of course, we need protection now. But above all, we need long-term guarantees that these can never happen again," he emphasised. The summit, attended by Ukraine, Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia, brought together countries, some of which have already been targeted by Moscow's hybrid warfare. Moldova's President Maia Sandu has warned of the dangers of hybrid warfare aimed at influencing the country's parliamentary elections scheduled for this fall. 'We do learn everyday by new attempts and new ways through which Russia tries to interfere with our internal political processes, democratic processes," Sandu said. "It is going to be tough, but we do want Moldovans to decide for Moldova at the parliamentary elections, and not the Kremlin." Through its actions, the Kremlin is threatening peace across the continent, while sabotaging efforts to reach a lasting peace in Ukraine, participants pointed out. 'Russia constantly rejects any constructive initiative and strives to undermine the path to peace," Romanian President Nicușor Dan, who was on his first official visit to Ukraine after winning the dramatic elections in May, said at the summit. "Russia proposes unreasonable demands, knowing that they cannot be accepted. The only language Russia understands is the language of force and we must do our utmost to help Ukraine negotiate from a position of strength.' Both Dan and Sandu have recently been targeted by disinformation campaigns on pro-Russian Telegram channels, as revealed by Euronews and Euroverify. Meanwhile, Odesa was again in the Russian forces' crosshairs in the run-up to the summit. Euronews Romania journalists have visited the Black Sea port city districts destroyed by Moscow's massive bombing in recent days. The extent of the destruction is significant: buildings in ruins, burned cars and people who no longer have a home. Every night, people are woken up by airstrikes and the long sound of sirens. The most terrifying, people say, is the noise of drones or missiles overhead. Kateryna, 32, witnessed the bombings in recent nights. The apartment she lives in, together with her mother, was hit by drones launched by the Russians. Everything was reduced to ashes. "This is the first time our home was bombed. My mother was sleeping in my room, and when the first Shahed drone came, she ran away and hid in the basement. The first strike was right in the room she ran from," Kateryna told Euronews. Earlier this week, at least two people died and 9 were injured in a missile and drone attack that also struck a maternity hospital and another medical facility, and the city's film studio and zoo. Odesa is of strategic importance to Ukraine, serving as one of the primary logistical channels for both the export and import of goods needed by the country, which has been affected by Russia's ongoing full-scale aggression.
Irish Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Ukrainian commander's final dispatch: ‘I had hoped my service and sacrifices would be enough, but they haven't'
Today is the 1,199th day since Russia 's full-scale invasion of Ukraine , and this is my last of six columns for The Irish Times. I'm sorry I cannot provide a definitive conclusion. The war shows no sign of ending. At best we hope for a temporary ceasefire. We nonetheless received a tremendous morale boost six days ago, when more than 100 first-person view (FPV) drones smuggled into Russia by the Ukrainian intelligence service, SBU, damaged or destroyed 40 bombers at bases from Siberia to the Kola peninsula. The SBU estimates we caused $7 billion in damage and destroyed 34 per cent of Russia's strategic aircraft. It was the most important Ukrainian victory of the war, and it was stupendous. These aircraft have been used by Moscow to terrorise Ukrainian cities. They are part of Russia's nuclear capability, so the attack was also a lesson to western allies who've been intimidated by Vladimir Putin 's threats of escalation. It was a humiliating blow to Putin. One wonders what other special operations the SBU is planning. On June 3rd it staged its third attack on the Kerch Bridge, Putin's prestige project, inaugurated in 2018 to link Russia to occupied Crimea. READ MORE Operation Spider's Web gave us a surge of joy comparable to the sinking of the Moskva , the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, in 2022, or the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region of Russia last August. It may provide some respite to Ukrainian cities, and I hope it will change the narrative. Our allies always overestimate Russia's strength and underestimate ours. One of the principal tasks of the drone platoon I command, the Hellish Hornets, is to designate front-line targets for FPV drones. Based on our reconnaissance, drone pilots kill a couple of Russian infantrymen daily. We observe Russian bases and logistics farther behind the front line, but our infantry are often unable to strike them because shell hunger – the chronic shortage of artillery shells – continues. The SBU programmed the same type of drones, costing just a few thousand dollars each and with a range of 15-20km, to attack Russian aircraft worth hundreds of millions of dollars, on airfields thousands of kilometres away. Tiny drones were packed into hidden compartments in the ceilings of containers driven by Trojan trucks. The lids opened and drones flew out in attack mode. I don't know all the details, but I certainly agree with the British defence commentator who said the operation shows that Ukraine's armed forces are the most innovative in the world. In the Oval Office last February 28th, Donald Trump taunted President Volodymyr Zelenskiy with the words 'You don't have the cards.' Zelenskiy held his cards very close to his chest while he supervised the planning of Spider's Web over 18 months. Ukrainian memes and videos mock Trump now. In the weeks before Spider's Web, the Russians continued to ratchet up their bombardment of Ukraine. On the eve of our drone attack on Russian aircraft, they fired 472 Shahed-type attack drones at Ukraine – 100 more than the previous nightly record – and seven ballistic missiles. US president Donald Trump, right, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in the Oval Office on February 28th. Photograph: Doug Mills/The New York Times Near our house in a front-line town, a civilian was killed and several were wounded. Last week our previous billet, which I decided to abandon three months ago, was obliterated. On May 28th, Makar, a middle-aged soldier from my company, was burned over 80 per cent of his body when a Russian glide bomb set fire to his unit's house. He's in hospital in Dnipro and we don't know if he will survive. A prisoner exchange was the only tangible result of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16th. The second session on June 2nd lasted only an hour but reached an agreement to exchange all prisoners under the age of 25, all who are seriously ill or wounded and 6,000 bodies. It was moving to see the famished, exhausted but joyous prisoners who were freed in May . The Russians had earlier tortured them psychologically by telling them they were going to be exchanged, then driving them back to prison. They didn't believe they were free until they saw Ukrainian flags and cheering people. The first thing they did was to call their family and say, 'Mom, I'm home!' I saw grown men crying. Trump has told European leaders that Putin isn't ready for peace because he thinks he's winning the war. Putin demands the lifting of sanctions, the disarmament and permanent neutrality of Ukraine, and even more Ukrainian territory than he has already seized. He wants unconditional surrender. We cannot accept that. Sometimes I think Ukraine is like a dog on a chain. The dog is fed enough not to die, but it is still chained. The owner of the dog is the West. I cannot see a path to a just, negotiated peace. We're preparing our society for the fact that the war won't end for as long as Russia exists in its present form. Putin is a dictator, but his death would not end the war, because Russia is more than Putin; it's a police state run by an intelligence service. Lt Yulia Mykytenko in Donetsk. Photograph: Julia Kochetova We've spent too much time and too many resources speculating about Trump, hoping he'll change. He kept threatening Putin with sanctions, but he never followed through and now he seems to have walked away from the conflict. I had to laugh when I read his May 26th post: 'I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people ...' Two US senators travelled to Kyiv to see Zelenskiy last weekend. I was encouraged by Sen Lindsey Graham's speech about a new package of sanctions that would badly hurt Russia. The sanctions Bill that Graham is promoting would impose 500 per cent tariffs on all countries who buy hydrocarbons from Russia. Graham is a Republican, and he won't bring the Bill to a vote unless Trump supports it. It's a long shot, but I need to have hope. It turns out the Europeans have paid Russia more for hydrocarbons since 2022 than they have given Ukraine in aid. They help fund the war by buying Russian gas and oil. Europe has not organised its defence industry, and the promise of a Franco-British security force is all but forgotten. Yet we have no option other than to trust the Europeans. They could be reliable allies if they wanted to be. They must decide if they want to be remembered as strong leaders who prevented a larger conflagration, or as appeasers. Putin may not want a ceasefire, but I think he overestimates his troops. On our section of the front line, the Russians hardly ever use armour, because we destroy it with FPVs. There are interviews with Russian soldiers on Telegram and YouTube and even on Russian propaganda channels. They say it was a mistake to join up for money. They say they are treated badly by their commanders and warn, 'Don't go there because you are going to die'. They are demoralised and they no longer see the point of the war. Zelenskiy said recently that Russia was recruiting 40,000-50,000 soldiers a month, compared with about 25,000 for Ukraine. They have to recruit a lot more because they lose a lot more, attacking all the time, all along the front line. In military academy they taught us that you lose three times as many soldiers on the offensive, but my impression is the Russians are losing five times as many as we are, because they don't hide or protect their soldiers. Ukrainian soldiers are exhausted, but we still know what we are fighting for. Despite my exhaustion, I am determined to protect my freedom and my family. I still believe that life is stronger than death. I will turn 30 next month. I must be careful not to gain weight. I need to be more active and eat less, take care of my skin. I just hope that maybe I will have a few years to live for myself, at last, and not for the army. Lieut Yulia Mykytenko with her younger brother, Bohdan, who intends to join Yulia's brigade this summer. Photograph: Yulia Mykytenko My little brother Bohdan will be eligible for the draft in a few months, when he turns 25. He'd rather join the 54th mechanised infantry brigade, where I've served since 2016, than be conscripted. Relatives can't fight in the same platoon, but I hope we'll be in the same company. Last September, Bohdan visited the Hellish Hornets in Donetsk and made himself useful repairing our vehicles. Of course, I will worry about him, but I believe every individual in Ukraine must protect himself and his family. I had hoped that my service and sacrifices – and the lives of my husband, my father and so many comrades – would be enough, but they haven't. Lieut Yulia Mykytenko's five earlier dispatches The Russians made them kneel in a line and shot them point blank The Americans have nerve, asking us to sacrifice teenagers Denys was skinny and muscular, with fair hair and blue-grey eyes. He was killed near Donetsk in February I think Putin is testing Trump, to see how far he can go and how many advantages he can get It may be extortionate, but I'd rather share our resources with US than Russia
Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Best of Both Sides: Operation Sindoor, Spider's Web make it clear — the infantry needs and upgrade
The technological shock of World War I was the machine gun, which could cut down rows and rows of infantrymen from a distance in the battlefield. Combined with barbed wire and mines, it made movement across open land difficult and dangerous. The 21st-century equivalent of the machine gun seems to be drones, small and large, which have caused more casualties in the Ukraine war than any other weapon. Their widespread use spans reconnaissance, strikes, and logistics. Drones have not only altered the tactical battlefield but have had a strategic impact as well. This was demonstrated by Operation Spider's Web, through which Ukraine launched an attack across the geographic spread of Russia, destroying some dozen aircraft including strategic bombers. The real impact of the operation has been psychological. The calls in Russia for nuclear retaliation are a measure of the shock. Spider's Web can be compared to an earlier operation when Ukraine sank the Russian guided missile cruiser Moskva in the Black Sea in 2022. The ship was sunk by anti-ship missiles. But a Bayraktar TB2 drone played a key role as a spotter to aid the Ukrainian effort. Subsequently, the Ukrainians have used aerial and maritime drones to push Russian naval power out of much of the Black Sea. Just as the machine gun was used in combination with artillery, trenches, mines and barbed wire in WWI, so too are drones being used in combination with other elements like armour, artillery, air power and information as force multipliers. First Person View (FPV) drones, which give the operator a driver's view from the camera, have made the battlefront more transparent. The movement of infantrymen and armour across the battlefield has become very difficult. The use of drones and associated loitering munitions in the recent 80-hour conflict between India and Pakistan marks a new beginning for the Subcontinent. Their employment was nowhere as extensive as in the Ukraine war, but it certainly is a pointer to their future use in the region. FPV drones enable a concentration of fire with the use of swarms, even while your own forces remain decentralised. Their effectiveness is due to their low cost and enormous accuracy, and their ranges, which can be anywhere from 10 to 30 kilometres. This has made an area of 20 km on either side of the battlefront a zone of death. Movement, whether by tanks or individuals, is hazardous. A new and deadly innovation has been the use of fibre optic cables to guide the drones without being jammed. It can only be taken out if you kill the operator. But detecting him or her is a monumental task. All this has led to greater emphasis on concealment, dispersed formations and anti-drone measures like jamming, smoke screens, or netting. Infantrymen have now begun operating in small teams, which try to penetrate deeper across the battlefront with greater stealth and discipline. Clustering in open areas and using insecure communications can lead to needless casualties. It is, therefore, firepower that seeks to aid the push. This in turn means that the defenders must fight from prepared defences, ideally from deep or underground bunkers. None of this should suggest that the infantry is obsolete. It remains critical to execute close-quarters combat and execute manoeuvres that drones cannot replicate. FPVs have been used for precision strikes, reconnaissance and artillery spotting, but infantry units are still needed to seize and hold the ground. FPVs should be seen as tools that enhance infantry capabilities, not replace them. The idea of using the infantry en masse to charge across the battlefield was killed by the machine gun. Now, the FPV drones have made infantry hugely vulnerable through precise low-cost strikes, requiring greater emphasis on concealment and dispersal. The infantry needs to operate as part of a cohesive combined arms team, integrating armour, artillery, engineers and air support to maximise their effectiveness. There may also be a need to integrate anti-drone systems, including handheld weaponry like longer-range pellet guns so that the infantry can deal with the FPV threat. Drone operators need to be integrated into these forces at the platoon level and trained in the use of drones and counter-measures. Constructing effective fortifications and defending them need to become an essential part of drone-led warfare. Small-unit tactics, initiative and adaptability are crucial. High-quality junior and non-commissioned officers are, therefore, essential. In fact, the arrival of FPV drones should encourage the Army to reduce the size of the infantry, but make it more effective through higher training levels. The future of drone warfare needs to be seen along with the advances in autonomous systems, which will integrate the infantry more closely with robotics and AI. Human soldiers, however, will still be needed to hold the terrain, make decisions and deal with complex situations that machines won't know how to engage with. The writer is distinguished fellow, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi
