The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has turned into a battlefield laboratory that exposes the fragility of modern warfare technologies. Platforms once considered “invincible,” such as Abrams, Leopard, and T-90 tanks, as well as Russia’s advanced SU-35 fighter jets, have been destroyed using cost-effective and innovative tactics. Kamikaze drones and unmanned surface vessels, in particular, have proven capable of neutralizing multimillion-dollar platforms, shifting the balance of the conflict.

Western support for Ukraine, including Abrams tanks, HIMARS systems, and Starlink-enabled communication infrastructure, has provided Kyiv with a decisive advantage. Meanwhile, Moscow’s initial strategic miscalculations resulted in significant losses for Russian forces. Ukraine’s effective use of unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare capabilities disrupted Russian superiority on the battlefield and altered the course of the war.

Another turning point emerged in the Black Sea, where Ukraine’s use of unmanned surface vessels inflicted severe damage on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. These attacks demonstrated the vulnerability of expensive, large-scale platforms when confronted with small, agile, and relatively cheap systems.

Experts argue that this conflict underscores the increasing role of low-cost unmanned systems in future warfare. At the same time, it highlights the fragility of electronic warfare, radar systems, and network-centric warfare assets. Many countries are now expected to reassess their defense strategies by drawing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.