Russia‑Ukraine dead‑zone warfare leans on drones and hidden infantry

On the front‑line dead zone between Russia and Ukraine, soldiers from both sides spend months in cramped underground shelters to avoid detection. The five‑year‑old conflict has become the first large‑scale war dominated by cheap first‑person‑view (FPV) drones, with thousands of low‑cost UAVs operating densely in the sky.

Both armies have shifted from massed formations to small units of two to three troops that act mainly as observers, calling in drone strikes when targets are identified. The drones are piloted remotely, often from behind the lines, using FPV cameras that transmit real‑time video via radio or ultra‑thin fiber‑optic cables. This new mode of combat turns the frontline into a high‑tech game of hide‑and‑seek, with each side constantly developing new UAV technologies to stay ahead.