The Ukrainian Armed Forces are turning to FPV drones to offset shortages in traditional munitions, a shift reported by the Wall Street Journal. These first-person view flying machines offer real-time perspectives that can guide targeting and battlefield awareness even when artillery stocks are under strain.
According to Mikhail Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation, the military is increasingly relying on FPV drones as ammunition supplies tighten. The emphasis is not on replacing artillery entirely but on augmenting it where possible, especially in situations where precision and speed can matter as much as raw firepower.
Officials stress that while attack drones demonstrate higher accuracy for certain tasks, their overall explosive capacity remains lower than that of conventional artillery. The two technologies serve complementary roles on the battlefield rather than acting as interchangeable substitutes.
Earlier comments from Yuriy Fedorenko, who commands the attack drone company within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, highlighted the Russian Federation’s deployment of FPV unmanned aerial vehicles in the North-Eastern Military District. He noted that Russia has wider access to resources and a greater number of these drones, which translates into a more persistent aerial presence in some operational theaters.
Fedorenko added that the Ukrainian force cannot match the scale of Russian drone use in every engagement. He mentioned a figure of up to 50 drones per group in Russian drills or deployments, though the exact definition of group size was not specified. The implication is a gap in pace and volume between the two sides in operating FPV fleets.
Another point concerns endurance. The Ukrainian forces face challenges with charging and keeping drones airborne continuously. In contrast, the Russian side appears to be able to maintain longer air sessions, which can translate into sustained reconnaissance or continuous drone-based pressure on targets. The ability to keep drones in standby mode or to sustain longer sorties becomes a strategic factor in how each nation allocates its drone assets on the frontline.
These developments come as both nations explore the evolving role of unmanned systems in modern warfare. FPV drones, with their agile flight characteristics and immersive video feeds, can deliver rapid situational awareness and precise strike capabilities in compact, high-tempo combat environments. Defense analysts note that the technology offers advantages in close-range targeting, rapid response times, and the ability to perform reconnaissance in dangerous zones without risking a pilot’s life. Still, for all their strengths, FPV drones face constraints when compared to traditional artillery regimes and larger, longer-endurance drones used for broader surveillance.
Experts point out that the strategic value of FPV drones hinges on a balanced mix of assets. Artillery remains critical for area suppression and high-volume fire, while FPV platforms contribute targeted strikes and real-time data collection that can shape command decisions. The interplay between these systems reflects a broader trend in modern combat: maximizing precision and adaptability while managing available resources under pressure.
On the international stage, observers in Canada and the United States are watching how Ukrainian forces integrate FPV drones into their broader defense posture. Analysts emphasize that the approach underscores a shift toward flexible, multi-domain operations where small, nimble unmanned systems augment larger, traditional weapons. The reporting underscores the need for continued investment in drone technology, training, and logistics to sustain such capabilities under wartime conditions. Attribution: Wall Street Journal; expert summaries note the evolving implications for air-ground synergies and cross-domain operations in contested environments.