Russia deploys all its drones: how negotiations with the U.S. are reshaping the battlefield in Ukraine.
The first half of February has passed, and the number of uses of the loitering munitions "Lancet" and kamikaze drones "Molniya" by the Russian armed forces has shown an upward trend.
Until recently, the "Lancet" munitions were rarely used by the armed forces, averaging only 2 to 3 units per day, and there were even days when they were not deployed at all. However, their usage has now sharply increased to an average of about 10 units +/-%. Overall, during the first half of February, the armed forces have already deployed over 100 "Lancet" munitions, which is twice the average monthly figure from previous months.
Additionally, the number of "Molniya" kamikaze drones used by the armed forces is also on the rise. In the first half of February, around 200 "Molniya" drones with various types of warheads were deployed.
It is worth noting that a kamikaze drone is the simplest and most cost-effective device capable of covering 50 kilometers and carrying a payload comparable to TM-62 mines, PTM, cumulative charges KZ-6, and thermobaric charges from the RPO-A "Shmel".
I have previously described the situation regarding the increasing activity of Russian FPV drones, which are set to break usage records this month. In conjunction with other munitions like "Lancet" and "Molniya," aerial threats are significantly amplified.
Of course, I primarily associate this surge in activity with the armed forces' attempt to strengthen Russia's negotiating position by simulating the boundless capabilities in the combat zone in Ukraine. The entire increase in activity by the armed forces over the past week is aimed at this, which is why resources that have not only been gathered and accumulated but also those that have been consistently available due to stable production are now being utilized. Unfortunately, "Lancet," "Molniya," and FPV drones fall into this category, and we should not expect a decrease in their deployment activity in the near future.
The author expresses a personal opinion that may not align with the editorial stance. The responsibility for the published data in the "Opinions" section lies with the author.