Combat drones responsible for almost 80 per cent of all casualties in Ukraine conflict

COMBAT drones have now become the dominant killer on the battlefields of Ukraine, Flying Eze on Sunday can reveal.

Up to 80 per cent of casualties on both sides of the conflict have been caused by what are known by the military as “”;.

The figures from Western officials mean that eight out of ten soldiers being killed and wounded in the conflict are being often miles behind the front line.

Western officials have also revealed that  the , with 250,000 dead — the greatest number of battle losses since the — and will take up to five years to rebuild their armed ­forces with troops and equipment.

There are also now more than 70,000 Russian troops who have lost limbs in the war — roughly the same total as the number of soldiers serving in the British Army.

In addition to casualties, has lost more than 10,000 tanks, 22,000 armoured personnel carriers, 26,000 pieces of artillery, 700 aircraft and helicopters, 28 ships and one submarine.

‘Astonishing figures’

Unmanned air vehicles have replaced traditional artillery strikes against opposition targets and now account for between 70 and 80 per cent of Russian and military casualties, the officials added.

They revealed that, from January to March this year, Russia has fired 10,500 — devices built by adding fold-out wings, fins and ­satellite navigation to old Soviet explosives.

They are dropped from planes many miles away from Ukraine air defences and can glide for up to 45 miles before striking their targets.

UK defence experts have warned that the nature of warfare is changing rapidly and that we must also start building our own squadrons of attack .

Russia has turned so-called 500lb and 1500lb “dumb bombs”; into highly accurate weapons.

As well as steering themselves, the bombs are very accurate and cost around £20,000 each, which is relatively cheap for precision weapons.

Last year Russia announced that it was starting development on a new glide bomb called a Drel, based on cluster munitions, which have been banned by more than 100 countries.

can have a devastating effect on buildings, air defence and armoured vehicles.

The officials also added that Ukraine is being hit with at least 100 one-way attack drones every day — around one every 15 minutes.

These weapons, which are also known as suicide drones, are cheap to produce and highly effective.

These astonishing figures have shown that drones will play a significant role in all future military campaigns.

Colonel Phil Ingram

They include the ­Shahed-136 — a one-way attack drone used by Russia in Ukraine, and adapted with new guidance systems and electronic counter-measures.

The other drone widely used by the is the , a jet-powered version of the Shahed 136, which can fly higher and faster, making it more difficult to intercept.

Suicide drones can loiter in a specific area before being given a target to attack and have been used against both civilian and military targets.

Colonel Phil Ingram, a former intelligence officer, said it was clear that drones had changed the nature of modern warfare.

He told Flying Eze on Sunday: “These astonishing figures have shown that drones will play a significant role in all future military campaigns.

Britain cannot afford to be left behind and must make sure it is properly equipped with these new weapons.”;

Ukrainian commanders have also revealed that the military’s reliance on drones is not just tactical but increasingly essential.

A shortage of artillery shells and highly capable means that drones have been used to fill critical gaps.

With a decrease in ammunition, including fewer rockets from US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System missile systems, drones have filled the critical gaps.

Trojan Horse

Ukrainian drone operators have now become so effective that they are a primary target for Russian counter-strikes.

Drone pilot Sgt Major Vasyl said that Russia was attacking drone teams using 1,000lb glide bomb munitions that are fired from the air and are usually used to target buildings or defensive positions.

He revealed: “If they detect a drone operator, everything is thrown at us.”;

Ukraine has also developed drones containing computer viruses — known as Trojan Horse drones — which are designed to be captured so they can help reveal the locations of Russian drone operators.

The development adds a dimension to a battlefield already transformed by the latest .

Russian forces found Ukrainian drones carrying malware, ­evidence of which appeared in a video shared on social media.

According to one post featuring a video, the Russian computer systems causing the USB port to burn out, or hijacking the repurposed drone and revealing the Russian troops’ location.

The , shotguns, flame-throwers and explosives.

in critical frontline first aid as part of Operation Interbow.

The six-week training course includes a final assessment where troops deal with serious injuries including mock drone wounds.

Meanwhile, the Government has pledged to deliver hundreds of thousands of drones to Ukraine using £350million of a £4.5billion .

Another £100million will be provided by as part of the , which met in Brussels on Friday.

It will include to attack targets, and drones which can drop explosives on Russian positions.

These two types of drones are reported to be responsible for 70 per cent of damage currently caused to Russian equipment.

Defence Secretary said: “The work of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group is vital to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position.”;