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Oleksandr Syrskyi notes that Ukrainian tanks are becoming less effective as low-cost drones dominate the battlefield.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, observed that the Ukrainian military is currently struggling to utilize heavy tanks effectively due to the rise of low-cost drones. While the West provided expensive Leopard-2 tanks, costing approximately $10 million per unit, these vehicles have faced significant vulnerabilities to drone swarms that can strike their most exposed areas. In the Kharkiv region, the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade has seen many of these tanks sit idle or serve as expensive tractors to tow damaged equipment. To counter drone threats, both Russian and Ukrainian forces have added protective nets and external panels to the tanks. However, many soldiers now believe the era of conventional manned tanks may be shifting toward unmanned systems. Despite the logistical challenges and the high cost of these machines, the Ukrainian military continues to train crews and seeks new ways to restore the combat value of their armored vehicles in a modern warfare environment.

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