Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Valery Zaluzhny, said that the war in Ukraine has radically transformed the nature of modern combat – with drones becoming the decisive force in warfare, rendering heavy weapons obsolete.
Addressing the Ukraine-United Kingdom Defense Technology Forum in London, UK, on April 25, Zaluzhny said:
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“The war in Ukraine has become the driving force behind many forces that have led to a change in the world order. This change has already taken place. And it does not depend on whether modern politicians want to see it or not.”
He said that the Russo-Ukrainian War has also completely changed the nature of warfare.
“One morning in the summer of 2023, when Ukrainian troops were overcoming enemy defense lines meter by meter, drones appeared in the sky on a scale that led to the transformation of the entire architecture of the battle.”
The development of drones, including reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), along with advanced situational awareness systems, made the battlefield “absolutely transparent.”
Warfare has entered a new phase, where traditional tactics and weapons are no longer viable, Zaluzhny said.
“Thanks to unmanned systems and digital technologies, the traditional and familiar types of weapons that have determined the nature of war for decades have become history. They are no longer there.”
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These advancements, particularly in electronic warfare, have rendered many traditional weapons ineffective, he said.
“Armored vehicles, which have been the basis of offensive operations since 1915, have become defenseless against cheap drones, and therefore their use in other types of combat is impossible today.”
“High-precision weapons that used GPS positioning have lost their effectiveness due to the development of electronic warfare.”
According to Zaluzhny, drones are continually creating new challenges for air defense.
“The emergence of a large number of small and cheap drones has made it economically impractical to use extremely expensive missiles for air defense systems.”
Drawing a parallel to World War I, Zaluzhny said that the war has entered a virtual standstill because the rapid evolution of technologies has made traditional tactics ineffective, and classic offensive operations have become nearly suicidal.
The current standoff is not only physical but strategic, with both sides struggling to adapt to the new realities of modern warfare, Zaluzhny said.
Earlier comment by Zaluzhny
Zaluzhny has not shied away from giving his thoughts about the state of the world and warfare.
In a speech at Chatham House on March 6, Zaluzhny argued that the US is “destroying the world order,” posing a challenge not just to Ukraine but to Europe as a whole.
He said the Russo-Ukrainian War is reshaping the global order, with the US attempting to shift the burden of European security onto itself, potentially signaling the end of NATO.
Zaluzhny added that ongoing US-Russia negotiations could further empower the Kremlin, endangering Europe.
Meanwhile, Zaluzhny praised Ukraine’s resilience, stating that the country is now recognized as a key player in international politics.
He argued that Ukraine is not only defending NATO’s eastern flank but also securing Europe’s future security. He predicted that in the next five to ten years, Europe’s security architecture would be impossible without Ukraine.
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