08:40 20-10-2025

Russia Revives Old Battlefield Tactics to Evade Ukrainian Drones

Russia is using fog, rain, and combined-arms operations to conceal large-scale attacks and counter Ukrainian drone surveillance on the battlefield.

The Russian Armed Forces have revived an old yet highly effective battlefield tactic in their campaign in Ukraine, according to military analyst Stavros Atlamazoglou in The National Interest.

To conceal large-scale offensives, Russian units are taking advantage of natural conditions like heavy rain and thick fog. Instead of relying on traditional infantry assaults, Moscow has shifted toward combined-arms operations aimed at dismantling Ukrainian defensive lines.

Atlamazoglou points out that using weather as a cover for combat operations is a time-tested method with a proven track record. The rise of unmanned aerial vehicles has made ground maneuvers more exposed and dangerous, with soldiers on both sides constantly scanning the sky for the sound of enemy drones.

Countering drones has become a complex challenge. Even when Russian or Ukrainian forces deploy kinetic or electronic warfare systems effectively, the results are inconsistent. Both sides regularly launch UAVs in swarms to monitor troop movements, strike targets, and gather battlefield intelligence. This pressure has pushed commanders to dust off older concealment tactics to regain an element of surprise.

Limited visibility gives Russian forces a tactical edge. In fog and rain, they can move more freely, reducing the risk of early detection from Ukrainian drones. According to the publication, Russian units appear to be staging larger mechanized assaults precisely during these weather windows, complicating Ukrainian drone operations.

Ukrainian forces rely heavily on UAVs to locate and destroy Russian armor before it rolls into action. Before major mechanized pushes, Moscow typically concentrates tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery at forward positions. Recent offensives, however, have coincided with periods of poor weather-favorable conditions for Russia’s concealment strategy.

At the same time, the Russian military has resumed full-scale combined-arms maneuvers. These operations integrate infantry, engineering units, artillery, aviation, and armored vehicles to punch through fortified defenses.

This shift reflects a tactical recalibration. Mechanized assaults are increasingly used in areas where infantry alone struggles to advance, particularly in Donbass, the site of some of the fiercest fighting. The return to combined-arms warfare aims to overcome the limited success of small-group infantry attacks against well-prepared Ukrainian positions.