The opening visuals showed Russian tanks near Kyiv, followed by footage of Turkish-made drones used by Ukrainian forces to strike invading armored units. Now, with the front largely stalled across thousands of kilometers, American HIMARS rocket launchers dominate the battlefield, breaking through Russian stockpiles. In the forthcoming phase, as large offensives are anticipated to reclaim ground, a steady flow of armored transports and truck convoys will be crucial to move troops and sustain supply chains.
EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, talks to four military strategy experts about the weapons shaping this 180-day conflict.
war of drones
“Unmanned aircraft have redefine the battlefield in this war,” notes one analyst for the paper. A Canadian scholar, Candyce Kenshall, president of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Studies Association in Vancouver, highlights American kamikaze drones with switched blades used by Ukraine against Russian armor as a striking example.
Beyond direct strikes, drones assist in adjusting artillery fire. Christian D. Villanueva, editor of Army Magazine, explains that many of these devices are simple, affordable drones that Ukraine has leveraged through crowdfunding. They help identify targets, refine shots, and boost effectiveness after the initial artillery round, while also enabling rapid withdrawal to increase device survivability and conserve ammunition.
Bayraktar, a Turkish UAV, has been a prominent example in this ongoing struggle.
This accessibility makes such drones easy to obtain and deploy. In a conversation with EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA, Martin Hurt from the Estonian International Center for Defense and Security notes that some models are widely available at low cost, delivering real-time intelligence that supports indirect fire and even grenade drops from the air. These capabilities complicate concealment for military forces in populated areas or forests.
classic artillery, modern weapons
Russia surprised many by sticking to a traditional playbook of heavy artillery and long lines of tanks, a strategy reminiscent of earlier eras. Notable exceptions, such as the unsuccessful assault on Hostomel airport, showed the limits of this approach.
artillery remains a dominant force on the battlefield. Kenshall explains that many Ukrainian soldiers have firsthand experience of artillery’s lethality, often seeing comrades fall without direct contact with the enemy. This attrition-focused war aims to inflict heavy casualties on opposing forces. Ukraine has publicly acknowledged thousands of its soldiers’ deaths, but observers believe the toll is even higher.
HIMARS rocket systems and the German Panzerhaubitze 2000 have become key modern artillery assets, delivering precision and range that reshape engagements.
Beyond missiles, tanks, and drones, attention turns to ammunition stocks, spare parts, and other consumables such as fuel. Hurt notes that these supplies are not flashy or politically popular to fund, yet they prove vital on the front lines and are often kept secret. Many nations invest heavily in new weapons while neglecting buffers for sustained high-intensity warfare.
Javelin missiles have gained fame for their role in destroying hundreds of Russian tanks. In Ukraine, they are celebrated as Saint Javelin, with murals in Kyiv praising their impact. Kenshall notes the units are exceptionally valuable, priced at tens of thousands of euros per missile.
Armored vehicles and mine clearance
In the coming weeks, one side is expected to launch an offensive to recapture or seize territory, particularly in Kherson, Donetsk, or Lugansk. Retired Australian general and war analyst Mike Ryan explains that the basic equipment for the next half-year will be armored fighting vehicles. These are essential to protect advancing troops and engage in direct combat.
Recent detonations at a Russian arms depot near a railway crossing in Dzankhoy, Crimea, highlight ongoing logistics disruptions. HIMARS is disrupting Russian supply chains, while more Russian travelers may flee the peninsula. Analysts note that the real battleground often centers on ammunition, spare parts, and sustainment rather than high-profile weaponry.
Like many analysts, Ryan emphasizes the importance of HIMARS and other precision systems, alongside high-speed missile options designed to strike headquarters and logistics hubs. The advance will also require mine-clearing units and other engineers, as well as thousands of trucks to ensure supplies reach the front lines.