Foreign Policy: Ukraine Has Changed The Course Of The War

Human life is priceless, whereas robots don't bleed.

Despite constant missile attacks and Russia's numerical superiority, Ukraine not only continues to defend itself, but is gradually changing the course of the war in its favor. The key role in this is played by modern technology, mass production of drones and the indestructible resilience of Ukrainian society. This is what national security expert and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Seth Stodder writes in a report for Foreign Policy.

One of the symbols of Ukrainian resistance remains Kharkiv. In February 2022, the specialized school #134 was the site of a fierce battle between Ukrainian defenders and Russian special forces.

After 13 hours of fighting, the Russian assault was repulsed, and the Kremlin's plans for a quick takeover of Ukraine's second largest city failed.

Today, children are playing on the playground near the destroyed school again. Despite the constant shelling, the city's residents continue to live their usual lives, demonstrating that years of terror have failed to break their will.

The air defense system intercepts most Russian attacks

Ukraine's air defense system has been significantly strengthened over the years of war. Ukrainian officials estimate that it now manages to intercept 80 to 90 percent of Russian missiles and drones attacking cities.

Although individual strikes still reach targets and cause civilian casualties, the effectiveness of the air defense system avoids much larger losses.

Russian offensive stalled

Despite numerous assaults, the Russian army continues to suffer heavy casualties with minimal territorial gains. The Russian spring offensive aimed at breaking through the Ukrainian defenses in Donetsk region has not brought the expected results.

According to the Ukrainian side, in one month alone, the Russian army's losses exceeded 35,000 military personnel killed and wounded. At the same time, Moscow continues to lose huge amounts of military equipment, including tanks, armored vehicles and artillery.

Drones have become the main weapon of war

The most important change on the front has been the mass use of drones. These are the drones that today inflict most of the losses on Russian troops.

Ukrainian heavy attack drones of the "Baba Yaga" type, particularly the "Vampire" and "Kazhan," have become especially popular. They are capable of dropping ammunition, performing night attacks and destroying enemy equipment far from the front line.

Factually, the war has turned into a large-scale confrontation of unmanned systems, where any vehicle or soldier can be detected and hit dozens of kilometers away from the front line.

A separate success factor has been the rapid growth of the Ukrainian defense industry. If before the full-scale invasion in Ukraine produced only a few thousand drones per year, in 2025 this figure has already exceeded 4 million units. For 2026, an even more ambitious goal is set - to produce up to 7 million drones.

This result was achieved thanks to the emergence of hundreds of new Ukrainian companies and developers who quickly adapted to the needs of the front.

The AI is coming to the front

Ukraine and Russia are increasingly using autonomous systems with artificial intelligence. Ukraine's newest drones can operate without constant communication with the operator, independently bypass electronic warfare and attack targets at a considerable distance.

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Swarms of drones are also being tested, which are coordinated using artificial intelligence algorithms and are capable of simultaneously attacking several objects.

In addition, the Ukrainian military has already reported cases in which enemy positions were captured solely by robotic systems without the participation of humans. Nikolai Zinkevich, commander of a Ukrainian unit that carried out the mission, says, "Human life is priceless, whereas robots do not bleed."

The Russian navy has lost its advantage at sea

Maritime drones also play an important role. Thanks to their use, Ukraine has significantly limited the activity of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Ukrainian maritime drones continue to make long-range raids and attack Russian ships and logistics routes, creating additional problems for the Russian military leadership.

In parallel, Ukraine continues to receive assistance from partners. European states supply air defense systems, interceptor missiles and drones, as well as expand joint production of weapons.

The Persian Gulf countries have also begun to cooperate with Kiev in the field of countering Iranian drones, exchanging investments for Ukrainian military experience.

In the opinion of the author of the material, the main reason for Ukraine's success remains not only the technological advantage in certain areas, but also the motivation of society. Ukrainians are fighting for their own state, freedom and the right to determine their own future. It is this combination that allowed Ukraine not only to withstand the invasion of 2022, but also to gradually change the situation on the battlefield in its favor.

Stodder summarized: "Ukraine has hard experience in the realities of modern warfare, a demonstrated ability to innovate and a strong industrial base. The Ukrainians have become formidable, and the West should be grateful to have them on its side. All who love freedom should stand with Ukraine and recognize that this is also our struggle."

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