Drone warfare in Ukraine: Russian decoys, 'unjammable' American drones, and the threats of UAVs in civilian hands
Three main stories of the week: Jan. 15 - 21, 2025.
In this edition of Drone Warfare in Ukraine, I explore how Russia is adapting its drone warfare tactics by deploying decoy drones to divert Ukraine’s air defenses. Meanwhile, Russia’s own air defenses face increasing strain as Ukrainian drones successfully target key infrastructure within Russia.
The official introduction of American V-BAT drones, resistant to electronic jamming and capable of executing long-range missions, provides Ukrainians with a significant technological advantage, which was already demonstrated during the first successful (and secret) deployment of these drones in August 2024.
Ukraine’s National Police is prioritizing the regulation of unmanned vehicles amid growing concerns about their potential use for illegal activities.
Don't underestimate the importance of decoy drones: an interview with a Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance expert on Russian drone tactics (available in Ukrainian on the website of Ukraiinske Radio).
Yaroslav Honchar, the head of the NGO "Aerorozvidka" (Ukrainian for "aerial reconnaissance"), discussed current Russian drone tactics in an interview with Ukraiinske Radio.
The Russians have changed their tactics, and now enemy strike drones are flying at lower altitudes to put additional pressure on Ukraine’s air defense system. This is because the lower the altitude, the more difficult it is for detection systems to identify objects. However, new methods are currently being developed to counter Shaheds, particularly at low altitudes.
During attacks, drones equipped with strike capabilities and those that serve as decoys are used. The use of decoy drones should not be underestimated. Russian strikes are always complex operations, so the enemy does not launch decoy drones merely to divert attention. After the diversion, the next stage is either an attack with other strike capabilities or the diversion of Ukrainian resources from areas that may become targets for strikes.
The decoy drones can be mass-produced quickly and are made from simple materials like plywood, foam, and basic electronics, making them inexpensive compared to their more costly counterparts. Drones like the Gerbera and Parodiya rely heavily on foreign components, as Russia cannot domestically produce the necessary electronics. The presence of Chinese-made products in these decoy drones highlights China's role in providing material support, enabling Russia to develop and manufacture its weapons of war. While it is unclear how Russia acquired the Western goods found in these decoy drones, previous investigations by the Institute for Science and International Security show that China has been a key supplier of restricted Tier 1 Western commodities from the Common High Priority List.
Ukrainians Train on American Drone That Defeats Russian Jamming (Inder Singh Bisht for The Defense Post, and other sources).
On January 15, the American company Shield AI announced its collaboration with Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) to train Ukrainian personnel on operating the V-BAT, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system designed to perform in electronic warfare environments. To strengthen its support, Shield AI has opened an office in Kyiv with a team of engineers, mission operations experts, and technical specialists.
The V-BAT drone has been supporting Ukrainian forces since August 2024, providing crucial capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting.
It has the following advantages:
No need for a runway.
Resistance to electronic warfare systems: it features a GPS-independent navigation system and a communication system resistant to electronic jamming.
Versatility for operations on both land and sea.
With a flight endurance of 10 hours and a range of 300 miles (483 kilometers), the V-BAT is well-suited for long-range missions.
In one instance in August 2024, a V-BAT successfully flew 140 kilometers (87 miles) beyond the frontlines, identified a Russian surface-to-air missile system, and transmitted targeting information to an M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System). The operation was executed while GPS and communication were jammed.
The V-BAT has also demonstrated its adaptability in maritime missions in the Black Sea, showcasing its utility across various operational settings.
The V-BAT's extended range of up to 483 km (300 miles) and its ability to loiter for prolonged periods provide Ukrainian forces with a significant tactical edge. Previously, Ukrainian troops depended on drones with much shorter endurance and range, typically limited to 60–100 kilometers and operational times of just 10–15 minutes. In comparison, the V-BAT offers loitering capabilities of 8 to 11 hours, enabling extended surveillance and the identification of multiple targets in a single mission.
Drones in Civilian Hands: Threats, Challenges, and the Need for Control (Olha Bulova for DAYCOM. Avaiable in Ukrainian).
The Head of Ukraine’s National Police, Ivan Vyhivskyi, has expressed concern about the potential threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) being used for criminal purposes. He emphasized the need for legislative regulation and control over all drone flights within the country.
According to Vyhivskyi, drones could become tools for committing murder, enabling crimes to be carried out remotely without the physical presence of the perpetrator. To prevent such scenarios, law enforcement agencies are actively working on drafting legislative initiatives to regulate the use of UAVs. Controlling drone flights is a vital aspect of national security, as they could potentially be used not only for crimes against individuals but also for acts of terrorism.
The primary goal moving forward is to implement legislative mechanisms to ensure drone usage control. This regulation may include:
Registration of all UAVs: Every drone must be officially registered, and its owner identified.
Flight zone restrictions: Establish "no-fly zones," particularly over strategic facilities, residential areas, and locations with large crowds.
Sanctions for illegal use: Strengthening penalties for using drones for criminal purposes.
Technological monitoring: Implementing systems to track and block drones that violate regulations.
These measures aim to mitigate risks associated with the misuse of UAVs while ensuring public safety and national security.
A full interview in Ukrainian is available here.
Other news on drone warfare in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
Russian trail cam drone is a new type of stealthy spy (David Hambling for Forbes). Last week Ukrainian analyst Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov shared images a curious new Russian device: an FPV drone carrying a trail camera and mounted on a bamboo frame. The trail cam drone looks odd, but this lashed-together combination can sit beside a track and covertly send back video of every vehicle that passes for weeks. Assembled from cheap commercial components, it is the sort of efficient, stealthy spy that U.S. forces used to dream of. As with other developments – drone-delivered caltrops, and flamethrowing ‘dragon drones’ which ignite tree lines with thermite – the trail cam drone shows how the air mobility provided by drones can be combined with other technology to produce impressive results. If Ukraine is not already using similar or more advanced versions of the same technology, they will soon.
According to a recent report by The New York Times, in September 2024, the U.S. secretly allocated $1.5 billion in funding to support Ukraine’s drone industry.
German Defense Minister: Germany will continue creating joint ventures with Ukraine in the defense industry, including in the field of drone production, but not missiles.
Russian drone strikes North Korean air defense system. Russian media channels recently published a video claiming to show a successful strike on a “Western-made radar system” allegedly operated by Ukrainian forces. However, defense analysts have identified the destroyed system as a rare North Korean surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, possibly in Russian service.
The UK intelligence reported that in December 2024, there was a decline in the number of uncrewed aerial systems of varying types used by Russia against Ukraine (1,700 in December compared to 2,300 in November). Weather factors likely impacted operations early in the month.
Ukraine continued striking critical Russian infrastructure, including two oil depots in Kaluga and Tula oblasts (January 17–18), an oil refinery in Voronezh Oblast, and a gunpowder plant in Tambov Oblast (January 15–16). Ukrainian forces reportedly struck an aircraft production plant in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan on January 20.
Russia’s inability to adapt its air defense strategy to counter the growing sophistication and frequency of Ukrainian drone strikes has become a pressing issue. Analysts argue that existing systems, designed for high-altitude threats, struggle to intercept small, low-flying UAVs. The sheer number of drones deployed exacerbates the challenge, overwhelming localized defenses.