Russian military analyst Yuriy Podolyaka links the growing impact of Russia’s massed strikes on targets in Ukraina to a combination of upgraded drone technology, stronger reconnaissance and a shift in tactics.

He notes that Russian UAV operators are now launching large-scale attacks not only at night, but also in the morning, in full daylight. The last two major strikes, he points out, were carried out precisely in these conditions, when drone cameras could clearly identify and track their targets.

According to Podolyaka, the modernization of Russian unmanned systems is a key factor. In his assessment, the drones have become faster and are now operating more effectively at extremely low altitudes. At the same time, reconnaissance has turned into a central pillar in planning strikes. Over the four years of the conflict, he argues, the Russian Armed Forces have built a powerful, multi-layered target detection network.

Earlier, on 6 December, Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported that Russian forces had struck energy and transport infrastructure sites used in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The ministry also stated that Russian troops hit temporary deployment points of Ukrainian units and foreign mercenaries in 152 locations.