In the early days of the war in Ukraine, drones were used as a source of victory.
Putin's tanks and armor were eviscerated by the ad-hoc drone air force of the Ukranian government.
In the first months of the invasion, Russia was humiliated. The experts told Insider that the drones are becoming less effective because Russia has improved its defense systems.
When compared to the earlier months of the war, Russia's electronic warfare and air defenses have become better organized and field.
Early warning radars are being used by Russian forces to disrupt communication.
Machine guns and air defense systems are used to shoot down the drones.
Recent footage from the Russian Ministry of Defense claims to show a Krasukha-S4 electronic warfare system in action.
According to Mark Cancian, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies,Ukraine was previously able to use drones so effectively because of Russia.
The Russians were slow in setting up an air defense system, which allowed drones to play such a role. He said that they were slow in establishing the combined arms operation that their doctrine called for.
The focus of the war has shifted to the Donbas region where Russia has better organized and positioned its air defense.
Ukrainian forces are limiting their use of drones because they are more difficult to defeat and lose.
While single-use drones such as the Switchblade and Phoenix Ghost cost several thousand dollars each, the TB2 drones can cost between $1-2 million each.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian government has received about 50 drones.
The Ukrainian army is scaling back their use of the TB2s after they were shot down by Russia.
According to reports, the US is planning on selling Ukrainian-made General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle armed drones, which have greater capabilities than the TB2's.
Two Ukrainian Air Force pilots told The War Zone that they are not advocating for the drones because they are likely to be shot down on their first mission.
Russia's air defenses are almost completely short, and medium-range missiles and drones are particularly vulnerable because they fly low and slow.
The role of drones is limited as a result of conversations I have had withUkrainian pilots.
Modern fighter jets from its Western allies have been advocated for by Ukrainian forces.
While Ukraine's drones are becoming less effective in this new phase of the war, Russia is still flying a lot of their drones.
One soldier told The Sunday Times that the Ukrainians don't have the weapons to shoot down the Russians. We can't do anything else.
The next few weeks will likely see the Russian military trying to better organize and push on with their offensive.
It is trying to trap Ukrainians in pockets around certain cities and towns in order to push and grind the Ukrainian defense. The Russians will be able to conduct strikes from the ground and the air with the help of drones.
Assuming the war continues as it is right now, we're going to see drones on the Russian side.
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