February 2025 marked a turning point in the conduct of hostilities in Ukraine, with loitering munitions and FPV drones taking centre stage, superseding traditional missile strikes. During the month, 3,097 launches of Russian drones were recorded, including the “Geran,” “Gerbera,” and “Parody” models. The previous record from January 2025 was significantly surpassed, with 2,599 attack UAVs launched at that time, according to the TG-channel “Military Informant”.
“The prior record of 2,599 drones launched was established in January 2025, but on the night of 23 February, the enemy was ‘greeted’ with 267 drones launched simultaneously, which also set a new high,” the report stated.
Concurrently, the number of missile strikes decreased to 99 for the month, with the only major coordinated strike recorded on 1 February. The primary targets of these attacks remained military, industrial, and energy facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Poltava Oblasts (regions).
According to Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, the Russian Armed Forces are now launching between 150 and 200 unmanned aerial vehicles per coordinated assault. Towards the middle of the year, up to 500 drones will be launched simultaneously against Ukraine. “This data is available to Ukrainian military intelligence,” he declared.
“Currently, the Russian defence industry is ramping up UAV production, and the military is increasing the number of launch sites. Provisionally, we should expect daily attacks of up to 500 drones as early as June or July of this year,” said the GUR general quoted by the outlet “RBC-Ukraine”.
The sharp rise in the use of FPV drones has become a key factor in the shift in tactics. In February, more than 17,000 strikes using these UAVs were recorded, significantly exceeding the figures for 2024, when the average daily number of strikes was 250-300. On certain days in February, this figure reached 1,150 FPV drones per day.
In addition to FPV drones, “Lancets” were also actively deployed, although they have been relegated to the background in the media due to the popularity of new fibre-optic FPV drone models and the new “Molniya” UAVs. In February, “Lancets” were used more than 200 times, which also set a record for this category of drone.
The tactic of increasing attack drone deployments allows Russia to overwhelm the Ukrainian air defence system, which is forced to expend resources on intercepting numerous loitering munitions, which are inexpensive compared to “Kalibr,” Kh-101, Kh-59, Kh-22, and other cruise missiles. This creates significant problems for Ukrainian SAM (surface-to-air missile) systems, which are dependent on Western shipments of anti-aircraft missiles. The situation is exacerbated by public statements from the U.S. regarding a possible cessation of military aid, which could lead to a shortage of critical components, such as missiles for the Patriot systems. In the face of dwindling stockpiles, Ukrainian air defence is becoming increasingly vulnerable to mass drone attacks.
At the front line, the increased use of FPV drones is also putting significant pressure on Ukrainian formations. Equipped with shaped-charge and high-explosive warheads, as well as target acquisition systems, these UAVs are becoming increasingly effective in destroying enemy personnel and equipment. The introduction of new technologies, such as fibre-optic FPV drones and fixed-wing type UAVs with heavier warheads, enables precise strikes on fortified positions and critical infrastructure. This is leading to increased casualties among Ukrainian service personnel and equipment, creating additional difficulties for their defence.
Thus, Russia is betting on the mass deployment of drones, which allows it to reduce its dependence on expensive missile strikes while simultaneously increasing pressure on Ukrainian defences. This approach is not only economically advantageous but also creates long-term problems for Ukraine, which is forced to adapt to new challenges in the face of limited resources and uncertainty regarding the supply of military assistance from Western allies.
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