Ukraine's drone tech has transformed in a year, journalists say

Ground robots are now replacing humans in dangerous front-line missions, including retrieving wounded soldiers and transporting them to safer locations for care, Epstein said. Leslie noted that giant bomber drones are increasingly deployed as heavy-lift platforms to deliver food, medicine, and water to the front.

Epstein said the heavy drone saturation on the battlefield has prevented either side from capturing any meaningful territory in years. What seems more impactful now are deep strikes: for Ukraine, mid- to long-range drone attacks on Russian logistics, supply routes, and energy infrastructure.

The use of AI in target identification and drone navigation is widespread, Leslie said, but in most cases, a human hand is still on the trigger. The big question, he said, is how soon before AI completes the kill.