Drones in the Russia-Ukraine War

Do these developments showcase the very best of collaboration and progress — or is the use of unmanned, AI drones a concerning turn for humanity?

Published 22 hours ago

context

Above: A Ukrainian soldier flies an FPV drone in the region of Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 19, 2025. Image credit: Alfons Cabrera/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Since the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2014, Ukraine's partnership with NATO has only grown. While much is made of the millions of dollars on weapons that have headed to Ukraine, it is little discussed how much NATO gets back in return by testing. This partnership is a two-way street and there couldn't be a truer example than Ukraine's thriving drone industry. The country's vibrant tech sector and its ability to adapt has enabled it to hold back a much larger enemy and NATO instructors have been learning the whole time.

Atlantic Council

Establishment-critical narrative

It was perhaps inevitable that bespoke AI software would enter the field of drone warfare. But the evolution of Ukraine's drone systems has taken a chilling turn. Previously, the AI software would simply help identify the targets — now it is able to lock onto a target and strike, with no human involvement. This has profound implications for not only war but humanity as well.

The New York Times

Narrative C

There have only been a handful of times in history that new technology has changed the nature of warfare, and drones are not one of those world-changing developments. Both sides in Ukraine have boasted about "game-changing" weapons, yet the conflict continues to be a war of attrition with no end in sight. Indeed, drones are an upgraded form of old technology, with the first instances being the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) of the 20th century, and it is unlikely that drones will change this war or any other war in a fundamental way.

Substack