Large-scale offensives built around concentrated troop formations and tank breakthroughs have become obsolete. Unmanned systems have fundamentally transformed modern warfare, rendering much of the knowledge traditionally taught in military academies irrelevant. Anatoly Bibilov, deputy commander for military-political affairs of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Volunteer Corps, outlined these changes in an interview with TASS.

According to Bibilov, the widespread use of drones in the air, on land, and at sea has completely rewritten the rules of combat. To illustrate his point, he described a hypothetical tank offensive in which an entire armored force could be wiped out within an hour of launching its attack, despite extensive preparations. Under such conditions, he argued, returning to traditional breakthrough tactics would be pointless.

The role of tanks has also changed dramatically. Rather than spearheading major assaults, armored vehicles are now deployed to strike targets from indirect-fire positions.

Bibilov expects the battlefield to evolve even further as unmanned platforms, automated combat systems, and crewless vehicles become increasingly prominent. These technologies, he believes, will continue to reshape military operations in the coming years. However, he ruled out the possibility of infantry disappearing from warfare, maintaining that ground troops will retain their place despite the growing reliance on unmanned equipment.