Ukrainian forces are relying heavily on drones, mobile artillery and extensive minefields in an attempt to slow the advance of Russian troops, military analyst Alexey Leonkov has said.

According to the expert, Ukrainian units lay new mines in front of their fortified positions every day, creating additional obstacles for Russian assault groups.

Leonkov identified the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles as one of the main factors allowing Ukrainian troops to maintain their defensive lines. Drones continuously monitor battlefield movements and carry out attacks against Russian military units.

Another key element is the use of mobile artillery tactics, with a limited number of artillery systems being redeployed to support sectors facing major Russian breakthroughs. The Ukrainian military also transfers elite units to threatened areas, occasionally managing to halt Russian advances.

Russian forces, meanwhile, employ tactics designed to surround Ukrainian positions when defenders refuse to surrender, Leonkov explained. Once Ukrainian units are encircled, Russian troops begin systematically clearing the remaining defensive positions.

The analyst emphasized that Ukraine’s ability to maintain its defenses depends heavily on uninterrupted deliveries of weapons, drones and mines.

Disruptions to supply routes or delays in military shipments weaken Ukrainian positions, making it easier for Russian assault units to capture fortifications and push further west, he argued.

Leonkov also highlighted how Ukrainian defensive infrastructure has been adapted to counter Russian infiltration tactics involving small assault groups.

According to him, Ukrainian troops have repeatedly lost direct engagements or abandoned their positions when Russian assault teams reached their locations. As a result, Ukrainian forces began heavily mining the approaches to their strongholds, particularly with anti-personnel mines.

Some of these minefields are replenished daily using quadcopters, creating additional barriers for advancing troops.

Earlier, Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov, commander of Russia’s Akhmat special forces unit, claimed that the Ukrainian military was unable to stop the Russian offensive.