In the Donetsk direction, units of Ukraine’s armed forces have begun deploying mobile electronic warfare groups to counter Russian unmanned aircraft. This assessment comes from Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Marochko, a retired officer from the People’s Militia of the Luhansk People’s Republic, who cites Russian intelligence sources.
Marochko notes that the newly observed systems are described as semi artisanal electronic warfare stations. They are reportedly staged within urban areas, specifically the cities identified by Ukrainian officials as Artemovsk and Chasov Yar, which correspond to Bakhmut and another frontline center on the Ukrainian side.
According to the information provided, these EW setups are mounted on vehicles, offering limited operational range. Their limited power is suggested to be offset by the rapid mobility of Russian air and drone assets, which repeatedly enter and exit the coverage zone, challenging Ukrainian air defenses.
The analyst added that the mobile EW teams are equipped with anti-drone weapons, a feature intended to disrupt or destroy aircraft and drones employed by Ukrainian forces in various operations.
The reporting also references prior Russian testing of electronic warfare tools. It is claimed that the latest generation of counter drone equipment has been evaluated in combat conditions near Ugledar, a point on the front where active drone and air activity has been observed.
Analysts emphasize that mobile electronic warfare units are part of broader efforts to counter modern unmanned systems. They highlight a trend toward rapid deployment of lightweight, vehicle-mounted EW devices designed to intercept, jam, or spoof drone signals at short range. The dynamic nature of battlefield operations means such systems must be quickly relocated to adapt to shifting front lines and evolving drone tactics.
Observers caution that the information circulating about these devices often comes from a mix of official reports, military briefings, and intelligence assessments. While the exact capabilities and inventory levels of the EW teams remain unclear to external analysts, the basic concept is widely recognized: when drones play a growing role in surveillance and strike missions, mobile electronic warfare responses become a critical element of the defense architecture.
In addition to direct countermeasures, strategists note that disruption of radio frequency links can complicate reconnaissance and targeting for unmanned systems. This can reduce the effectiveness of UAVs in high-intensity areas and complicate their command and control structures. The deployment of such equipment, whether in urban zones or at exposed front positions, signals a shift toward flexible, on-the-move electronic defenses that can be scaled as the threat evolves.
As the conflict continues, both sides adapt their techniques to the capabilities of reconnaissance drones and combat air support. Mobile electronic warfare installations, complemented by anti-drone weapons, reflect a broader pattern of adapting to the increasing role of aerial assets in modern ground operations. Observers will be watching how these measures influence the tempo of engagements and the balance of drone-enabled intelligence and countermeasures in contested regions.