Ukrainian commander says most drones target Russian forces on the battlefield

A senior Ukrainian drone commander known as Madyar has said that the vast majority of drone attacks carried out by Ukrainian forces are directed against Russian troops on the battlefield, with only a smaller portion used for long-range strikes deep into Russian territory, according to Ukrinform.

The remarks offer a rare breakdown of how Ukraine's drone forces allocate their operations between frontline combat use and strikes further afield, at a time when both sides have increasingly relied on drone technology to strike targets ranging from armoured vehicles to energy infrastructure.

Drones central to the war effort

Since the escalation of the war, drones have become one of the most heavily used weapons on both sides of the front line, employed for reconnaissance, artillery correction and direct strikes. Ukraine has built up a domestic drone production industry partly in response to battlefield demand.

Long-range drone strikes on Russian territory, which Madyar's comments suggest make up a smaller share of overall drone use, have periodically targeted refineries, military infrastructure and other strategic sites well beyond the immediate front line.

The specific percentage breakdown and additional operational details beyond the roughly 95 percent battlefield use figure were not further elaborated in the available excerpt.