Is the Russian Military Adapting Effectively to the Drone Age?

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 7 min read 100% complete by Neil MacFarquharJanuary 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM

AI Summary

long article 7 min

A public debate is occurring among Russian military figures, analysts, and bloggers regarding Russia's adaptation to drone warfare in Ukraine. Prompted by Ukraine's effective use of drones against Russian armor, the discussion centers on whether Russia's traditional military approach is obsolete. The debate encompasses concerns about equipment, training, and tactics, particularly Russia's reliance on small troop teams due to drone threats. The core question is whether Russia has effectively adapted to the battlefield changes brought about by drones. This debate is happening as Russia is locked in a war of attrition in Ukraine.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

DeepState 50% Neil MacFarquhar ×250% The New York Times ×250% Kharkiv 60% Sulyhivka 60% Russian Military ×390% Russia ×590% Ukraine ×690%

Keywords

drone warfare 90% military adaptation 80% russian military 80% ukraine war 70% military tactics 70% drones 60% armor neutralization 50% war of attrition 50% frankenstein tank 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.20

Source Transparency

Source

New York Times - World

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.30)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Ukraine

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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drone warfare military adaptation russian military ukraine war military tactics drones armor neutralization war of attrition frankenstein tank

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