Ukraine has deployed a new strategy to beat Russia

Ukraine has deployed a new strategy to gain an edge over invading Russian forces and it seems to be working on one of the hottest spots on the frontlines. But can this strategy change the war? Here’s what we know. 

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have deployed a new drone and counter-drone strategy in the war against Russia according to David Axe of Forbes, who reported the new tactics are helping in the defense of Avdiivka. 

Russia’s ground-based radio jammers are being targeted by Ukraine while the country’s armed forces are setting up its own radio jammer systems to ground Russia’s drones as Moscow increases its aerial assaults.   

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Vitaly V. Kuzmin

Fighting on the ground in Avdiivka has been raging since Russia launched its first major attacks on the critical Ukrainian stronghold in October. However, these attacks were met with heavy troop and equipment losses. 

More than 13,000 soldiers have been killed or wounded in its assaults on Avdiivka and other cities during Moscow’s recent pushes in Ukraine according to the U.S. National Security spokesperson Adrienne Watson. 

Newly declassified American intelligence revealed the stunning losses Russia has faced as a result of the Kremlin’s renewed offensives in Ukraine. Among the information in the intelligence was Russia’s recent losses. 

In addition to the country’s troop losses, more than 220 combat vehicles have also been knocked out of the fight as a result of recent battles. These losses may be why Russia’s military leaders have changed their approach in places like Avdiivka.

Instead of focusing on vehicle-based ground attacks to break through Ukraine's defense at Avdiivka, Russian forces have been moved towards the same type of tactics Ukraine has employed throughout the conflict. 

The Russian Armed Forces have shifted towards using unnamed aerial assaults to hit Ukraine's supply lines into Avdiivka and drain its garrison of what it requires to keep up the defense of the city according to Axe. 

However, Ukraine’s new counter-drone strategy is grounding Russia’s unmanned aerial vehicles before they can attack its supply lines, a situation that could result in Moscow being the one to run out of supplies. 

“There is no telling how long Ukraine will have this advantage, but it’s currently saving Ukrainian lives,” explained former U.S. infantry officer and current war analyst David Hill in a Substack newsletter quoted by Forbes. 

Hill explained that Ukraine's electronic warfare advantage near Avdiivka was holding as the country’s armed forces increased their attacks on Russia amid Moscow’s dwindling number of drone attacks in the sector. 

The evolving nature of the war and the focus on beefing up electronic warfare as well as counter-drone capabilities should not come as a surprise to anyone following the war, both were noted key by Ukraine's top general.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By the National Guard of Ukraine

On November 1st, The Economist published an interview with the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Valrey Zaluzhny in which he described the war as a stalemate but one that could be overcome. 

One critical point made by General Zalauzhny was that electronic warfare, and the ability to jam communication and navigation systems, were key to winning the drone war, and it seems that Kyiv has been working on making advancements in this regard.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By АрміяInform

“Every piece of equipment must be protected by electronic warfare,” said the Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov on October 30th while speaking about the importance of the technology with RBC-Ukraine. 

“Every trench, every location of our soldiers must be protected by electronic warfare to analyze the frequencies at which enemy drones fly. This is a huge systematic work and a new doctrine of modern technological warfare.” Fedorov added. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Mil.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0

For now, it seems that Ukraine has developed an electronic warfare edge over Russia if the events unfolding around Avdiivka are to be believed. But can Kyiv’s advantage win the war? This is still unknown, but it will certainly help.