Resistance on Ukraine’s Eastern Front: Strategic Struggle against Russian Forces and Counterattacks by UAVs

Since February 17, the fighting that began with the fall of Avdiivka has continued on Ukraine’s eastern front. While Russian forces have made small but strategically important gains, Ukraine has largely managed to maintain its defense line. This resistance presents a major challenge, especially in the face of the new generation of munitions that Russia has begun to use, such as gliding bombs.

Ukrainian officials say the deep craters and large areas of destruction created by these bombs have increased the pressure on the front line. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia uses 700 of these bombs per week and that the most effective way to counter them is to shoot down the planes carrying them.

Strategic Airstrikes and Counter Tactics

Ukraine’s counterattack is based on targeting military bases inside Russia. In recent operations, Ukrainian drones have hit four important airfields: Engels, Morozovsk, Yeysk and Kursk. These strikes caused particularly severe damage at Morozovsk, resulting in the destruction of six aircraft and damage to eight others. Among the damaged vehicles were two Tupolev-95s and three Sukhoi-25s. Losses at the Engels and Yeysk air bases also represent a major blow to Russia’s air force.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington DC-based think tank, says that if confirmed, these strikes would mean a serious reduction in Russia’s strategic air power. According to ISW, Sukhoi losses are also not negligible.

Latest Situation and Progress on the Front

Russian ground forces’ efforts to advance westward from Bakhmut concentrated on the town of Chasiv Yar in the last days of March. This advance was confirmed by ground footage; a reinforced mechanized company encountered artillery fire and was forced to retreat. Ukrainian soldiers report that 19 out of 34 vehicles have been destroyed, dealing a serious blow to the Russian advance.

The capture of Chasiv Yar could facilitate the Russian advance towards the remaining urban centers of Donetsk, particularly Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which the separatists briefly captured in 2014. This strategic move could affect the balance of power in the region and lead to the emergence of new conflict points.

Future Projections and Strategic Assessments

Ukraine’s struggle on the eastern front reveals both difficult defensive conditions and effective counterattack tactics. Despite ever-increasing Russian military pressure, Ukraine is responding with successful drone strikes against strategic air bases. These dynamics will determine future military strategies and increase the need for both sides to develop new tactics.

In short, developments on Ukraine’s eastern front are crucial for regional security and strategic balance. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine may also affect global political balances, so any military and strategic developments in this region should be closely monitored. In this process, Ukraine’s defense strategies and counter-attack capacities stand out as indicators of its resilience.