Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The tables seem to have turned since the beginning of the year.
Ukraine is intensifying pressure across multiple layers of the battlefield as 2026 unfolds, and the growing focus on drone warfare is reshaping how Kyiv targets Russian positions beyond the frontline, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests.
Ukrainian units are increasingly striking critical systems rather than frontline troops, altering the tempo of combat. Officials say this shift is already influencing Russian operations.
New targeting focus
In its March 19 update on the war, ISW notes that, according to Ukrainian military officials, drone units have redirected their efforts toward artillery, drone crews, supply routes, and staging zones.
The change has reduced the frequency of Russian assaults and enabled localized Ukrainian advances.
Frequent strikes on communication equipment, including antennas, are also affecting morale and limiting frontline command capabilities, the officer added.
Recent battlefield reports indicate that Ukrainian drone operators destroyed a full battery of six Grad rocket systems near Pokrovsk. Verified footage showed at least two systems eliminated near Zhuravka, about 16 kilometers from the front, ISW reports.
Expanding strike depth
Ukraine is also widening its reach deeper behind Russian lines through mid- and long-range drone operations.
ISW cites an open-source analyst who reported a sharp rise in such strikes, increasing from around 11 per month in 2025 to roughly 45 since November.
The analyst said that a third of the 365 recorded strikes over the past year occurred in just the last three months. Many targeted air defense systems, including radars and missile launchers.
Ukrainian forces are increasingly using domestically produced drones with ranges of up to 250 kilometers, partially replacing systems like HIMARS.
The BBC reported that Ukrainian data shows 55 Russian air defense systems were hit during winter 2025–2026. Military officials later said the total had reached 80 by mid-March.
The independent tracking group Oryx previously confirmed dozens of destroyed systems in 2025. Analysts say that weakening Russian air defenses is allowing Ukraine to strike deeper and more valuable targets.
Sources: Institute for the Study of War (ISW), BBC, Ukrainian military statements, open-source analysts, Oryx
