Increased Ukrainian Drone Strikes May Force Russia to Relocate Jets and Air Defense

Ukraine has ramped up its drone strikes on Russian military targets, as its international allies continue to withhold approval for long-range attacks deep into Russia. This approach could compel Russia to move its aircraft and air defense systems further from the front lines.

This was reported by The Wall Street Journal on August 22.

Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London who specializes in air power and technology, observed that while drone strikes are causing harm to Russia, the impact thus far has not been strategically significant.

"However, the current rate of damage inflicted on air bases is something that the Russians cannot just accept long term as it would become a serious problem for the [air force] over time," he said.

Reports suggest that by targeting airbases deep within Russia, Ukraine could compel Russia to move its air defense systems further from the front lines. This shift could make targets closer to the front easier to strike for the Ukrainian forces.

Bronk believes that drone strikes could lead Russia to relocate some of its fighter jets to bases much farther from Ukraine. According to him, this shift has decreased the number of glide bombs being launched, as Russian aircraft now face longer travel distances from their bases to the front lines.

Douglas Barrie, a senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, asserts that the increasing number and range of Ukrainian drone attacks are becoming a growing concern for Russia.

He noted that although Ukrainian drones cannot substitute for long-range missiles, they force Russia to reconsider the positioning of its aircraft and air defense systems.

"The effectiveness isn’t just in hitting the target—it has an effect even if it’s shot down," Barrie said.