Russia launches 300 drone attacks and 20 missiles in first three days of 2025

Russia launched 300 attack drones and nearly 20 missiles on Ukrainian targets in the first three days of 2025, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Most of the drones were shot down or neutralised, but some managed to reach their targets.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine nears its third full year, the relentless use of drones has cemented their role as one of the most critical tools in the war, reshaping strategies and transforming the battlefield into a high-tech arena.

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"Drones have become one of the most important tools in the fight against the occupier, both on the front lines and behind enemy lines," Mr Zelensky said in a post on X.

"Drones have already changed the course of the war. They save the lives of our people and compensate for the shortage of other weapons, including artillery, enabling us to defend ourselves and destroy the occupiers," the post continued.

Frontlines that were once a gunshot apart have become a deadly no-man's land spanning several miles.

The deepening frontline reflects a broader shift in the war's dynamics.

Rather than face-to-face combat, much of the conflict is now waged remotely, with drones being the preferred weapon for striking troops, vehicles, and ammunition depots.

Ukrainian forces disrupt Russian drone teams with counter-drone technologies, including jamming devices and anti-drone rifles.

Meanwhile, Russia's deployment of swarms of Iranian-made Shahed drones continues to put pressure on Ukrainian air defences and infrastructure.

Drones are cheap and fast with some small first-person view (FPV) drones able to travel at speeds of 37mph (60km/h).

Equipped with thermal-imaging cameras, they are just as effective at night, leaving little respite for ground forces.

As drone warfare reshapes the war in Ukraine, the UK is making significant strides in counter-drone technology.

The British Army recently trialled a radio frequency directed energy weapon (RFDEW) capable of neutralising drone swarms at a fraction of the cost of traditional defences.

The RFDEW can target threats on land, in the air, or at sea from over a kilometre away, using radio frequency at an estimated cost of just 10p per shot.