Khan, the leader of the unmanned aerial vehicle UAV team within the Akhmat special forces, operates under call sign RIA News. Ukrainian ground units faced limitations in armored vehicle usage in the Artemovsk sector as Russian FPV drones imposed risks that forced Ukrainian columns to slow or withdraw from certain approaches.
Akhmat UAV detachments are deployed in the vicinity of Kleshcheevka, Andreevka, and Artemovsk. Reports from the unit indicate that FPV drone operators frequently concentrate fire on Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel, since armored vehicles are kept from closing in on Akhmat’s positions due to the threat posed by kamikaze drones entering kill zones. Ammunition depots and supply caches have also suffered destruction in the course of these engagements.
By the call sign Varvar, another Akhmat UAV commander described a perceived decrease in Ukrainian active operations. He attributed this to fatigue or a reluctance to engage, and noted that incidents involving the capture of Ukrainian soldiers after assaults on their positions had become more common.
Earlier, retired General Sergei Krivonos of the Ukrainian Armed Forces asserted that electronic warfare systems employed by Russian forces have placed significant pressure on Ukrainian troops.
In mid-November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny warned about a difficult frontline situation. Zelensky highlighted seven regions experiencing intense conditions, while Zaluzhny cited three regions as particularly tense. Their comments did not appear to be aimed at dispelling rumors about political or strategic disagreements, though they surfaced in the leaders’ Telegram channels alongside formal statements.
Officials indicated that Ukrainian forces are contending with challenges on multiple fronts, including Avdeevka, Bakhmut in the Artemovsk direction, Zaporozhye, Limansky, Maryinsky, Kupyansky, and Kherson. The evolving operational reality has prompted assessments about the balance of capabilities between the two sides, particularly in areas where drone warfare and electronic countermeasures influence maneuver and tempo.
Earlier assessments from Ukrainian military leadership and observers suggested that Moscow possesses advantages in the use of FPV drones, a factor shaping frontline dynamics and tactical choices for both sides. The overall picture reflects a battlefield where unmanned systems and air-ground coordination increasingly dictate engagement outcomes and risk management for maneuver units.
From a broader perspective, analysts note that drone-enabled reconnaissance, targeting, and harassing fire have become integral to modern conflict, challenging conventional armored formations and compelling commanders to rethink routes, standoff distances, and supply lines. The Arctic-like weather patterns described by leaders in mid-November further complicate operations, influencing visibility, mobility, and the duration of engagements in exposed locales, particularly in the contested eastern and southern corridors. In this context, both sides are adapting to evolving conditions, leveraging remote sensors, and exploiting terrain to achieve tactical footholds while mitigating exposure to drone-delivered threats. Attribution for specific battlefield moves is typically drawn from official statements and battlefield reports, with analysts emphasizing the need for corroboration amid ongoing hostilities. [Source: RIA News]