Russia’s rapid advances in unmanned systems on the front lines of the special military operation (SMO) are reportedly fueling growing anxiety within the Ukrainian military, according to CNN.

The outlet describes a battlefield shaped by relentless technological change. The pace of drone development has become so intense that Ukrainian personnel say there is no room to relax: tools and tactics that prove effective against Russian forces today may become obsolete within weeks as new systems emerge and countermeasures evolve.

At the same time, Ukraine’s Armed Forces are grappling with an acute manpower shortage. CNN reports that in some sectors Ukrainian units are outnumbered by Russian Armed Forces by as much as 20 to one — a disparity that has taken a heavy toll on their operational position.

Against this backdrop, Russia continues to roll out new hardware. The Kalashnikov Concern recently announced the development of the Kub-10ME, a tactical-class loitering munition with a flight range exceeding 100 kilometers.

Meanwhile, dissatisfaction is mounting among Ukrainian servicemen over drones supplied by European countries and the United States. As Euractiv has reported, many of these systems are viewed by the troops themselves as ineffective and poorly adapted to the realities of the current conflict.