Driverless corridor tactics: How Russia is infiltrating Ukrainian defenses.
The Russian military deployed elite infantry units in conjunction with drones to establish control of the airspace and break through defenses in the Donetsk region.
"Drone corridors" are a new combat tactic being widely adopted by the Russian military to penetrate Ukraine's fortified defenses. According to RIA news agency, this method relies on close coordination between small infantry groups and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems to gain air and ground superiority sequentially.
How small group tactics work
To implement this tactic, the Russian military divided its forces into extremely small infiltration teams, consisting of only 2 to 3 soldiers. This size allowed them to move flexibly, taking advantage of urban or jungle terrain to infiltrate dangerous areas surrounding Ukrainian positions without being detected by radar or long-range surveillance systems.
Upon reaching their designated location, these groups quickly establish an outpost. Here, soldiers are equipped with protective gear against enemy drones. From these positions, they launch individual UAVs to control the area's airspace, forming an interconnected network known as an "unmanned corridor."
Impact on the battlefield situation in Donetsk
Controlling airspace corridors allows Russia to effectively control densely populated areas and facilitates the advance of larger units. According to the latest reports, Russia's Southern Force Group has made significant progress in the village of Konstantinovka, an area that serves as a crucial railway transit hub for Ukrainian logistics in the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk region.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that assault groups from the 3rd and 8th Army Corps, along with the 3rd Army Group, destroyed several besieged Ukrainian units southwest of the city. The Ukrainian side reportedly suffered approximately 90 casualties, along with numerous armored vehicles and pickup trucks, in the area over the past 24 hours.
Reactions from stakeholders
Under increasing military pressure, the Ukrainian authorities have begun implementing a plan to evacuate key businesses and organizations from Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka to the west. These are crucial industrial and logistical centers in the Donetsk region, which are currently within striking distance of Russian forces.
On the diplomatic front, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that developments on the ground would be a factor in prompting Ukraine to return to the negotiating table soon. Meanwhile, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that Ukrainian units are suffering heavy losses and their combat capabilities are gradually declining in the face of these new forms of warfare.
| Recorded parameters | Data/Location |
|---|---|
| Infiltration team size | 2-3 soldiers |
| Distance from Konstantinovka to Donetsk | 55 km |
| Losses on the Ukrainian side (over the past 24 hours) | 90 soldiers, 3 armored vehicles, 20 pickup trucks |
| Number of buildings controlled in Kostyantynivka | 117 buildings |
Currently, fierce fighting continues in the southwestern areas and the Konstantinovsky Metallurgical Plant complex. Complete control of the unmanned corridors is considered key to Russia maintaining its advance in the next phase of the operation.