Territorial brigades shed infantry weight and gain drones to stop surprise raids

The sustainability of Ukraine’s defense increasingly depends not on headline offensives, but on the quiet endurance of units holding ground under constant pressure. As Russia expands drone warfare beyond the front line, the rear areas that keep the war effort functioning have become a contested space of their own. Territorial Defense formations form the backbone of this layer, absorbing pressure that would otherwise bleed into civilian life and logistics. Their challenge is not motivation, but exposure in an environment where static infantry is easy prey for persistent aerial surveillance. Under these conditions, defensive resilience is determined by visibility, reaction time, and the ability to disrupt threats before contact. Against this backdrop, changes now underway inside Ukraine reflect a broader adaptation to a battlefield where drones define how long defenders can hold.

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