Damaged: Belgorod following Ukrainian drone attack, leading to fatalities
In the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict, the use of combat drones has significantly escalated, with Ukraine employing a broad and technologically advanced drone arsenal against targets within Russia. This development marks a new phase in the three-year-old conflict, as both sides increasingly rely on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military purposes.
Ukraine's drone operations span across various domains, including air, ground, and sea. These drones have become a critical force multiplier for Ukraine, destroying Russian armor, artillery, and infrastructure while conducting deep strikes inside Russia, such as attacks on airbases and manufacturing facilities. The effectiveness of Ukrainian drones is highlighted by the fact that they account for about 70% of confirmed Russian losses, according to the Royal United Services Institute.
One of the most significant recent operations by Ukraine was Operation Cobweb in June 2025, which damaged around twenty Russian military aircraft simultaneously. Ground drones are also used to storm enemy trenches and assist logistical efforts, while marine drones challenge Russian naval forces in the Black Sea.
In response, Russia has intensified its air defense efforts to intercept and destroy Ukrainian drones. Recent drone attacks by Ukraine targeted various Russian regions, including Moscow and surrounding areas, resulting in the downing of a large number of drones. For example, between the night of July 10 and early morning July 11, Russian air defense systems reportedly intercepted and destroyed 155 Ukrainian drones, including 11 headed toward Moscow.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that most of the drones destroyed overnight were intercepted over Russian border regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk, and four Ukrainian drones were successfully destroyed over the Lipetsk region. This wave of Ukrainian drone attacks resulted in one fatality and one injury in Lipetsk, as well as damage to an agricultural enterprise. Russian aviation authorities temporarily suspended flights at three major Moscow airports as a precaution during these drone attacks, but operations have since resumed.
The ongoing drone warfare is playing a decisive role in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, with Ukraine pushing increasingly sophisticated drone strategies deep into Russian territory and Russia relying heavily on air defenses to mitigate the threat. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirms active interception in key border regions and reports significant drone attrition on their side.
[1] "Ukraine's drone warfare: How unmanned aerial vehicles are changing the face of warfare in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict." (Source) [2] "Russian air defenses intercept and destroy over 150 Ukrainian drones in a single night." (Source) [3] "Ukraine's marine drones challenge Russian naval forces in the Black Sea." (Source)
- The escalating war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, particularly the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, is witnessing a new phase with both nations integrating politics and technology in their military strategies, as evidenced by the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- General-news sources report a focus on drone warfare in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, with Ukraine employing these advanced UAVs to target Russian armor, infrastructure, and even striking deep inside Russian territory, while Russia strengthens its air defense systems to counter these attacks, highlighting the significance of UAVs in modern warfare.
