The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Inside Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Against Russia
Aug 1, 2024
In this enlightening discussion, Anastasiia Lapatina, a Kyiv-based Ukraine Fellow, and Marcel Plichta, a former U.S. Department of Defense analyst, delve into Ukraine’s innovative drone campaign against Russia. They explore how advanced drone technology is reshaping warfare dynamics, including successful strikes on critical oil infrastructure. The duo highlights the psychological effects of these drone missions, their influence on global oil prices, and the contrasting manufacturing tactics between Ukraine’s decentralized production and Russia’s centralized approach.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Rationale for Ukrainian Drone Campaign
- Ukraine needed long-range strike capabilities but lacked options and international support for traditional weapons.
- Drones offered an indigenous, cost-effective solution leveraging Ukraine's existing drone industry and commercial technology advancements.
Crux of Drone Campaign Proposal
- The core recommendation was for Ukraine to produce as many one-way attack drones as possible.
- Western partners could assist by subsidizing parts and components.
Predicted Effects of Drone Campaign
- A one-way drone campaign could challenge Russia by targeting vulnerable soft targets like fuel and ammo dumps.
- It could also have psychological effects and force Russia to divert air defenses from the front lines.