Russia’s Military Shifts Strategy
The Russian military is overhauling its battlefield approach, moving away from mass infantry assaults in favor of operations conducted by small teams. This change is driven by the growing effectiveness of drones and electronic warfare systems, which make large troop concentrations easy to detect and target. The Telegraph reports, citing analysts and military experts.
For over four years of conflict, Russia relied on waves of foot soldiers, but that era is ending. Keir Giles of Chatham House explains:
“Abandoning human wave attacks reflects the evolution of warfare on a transparent battlefield, where any large formation quickly becomes a target.”
The new approach involves slow, stealthy infiltration through gaps in Ukrainian defenses. Russian troops now move in groups of two to four soldiers—sometimes even alone—traveling on foot, often at night, and minimizing radio communication. Their key objectives include:
- infiltrating behind enemy lines,
- securing positions,
- guiding additional units for flank or rear attacks.
Although these assaults are at the platoon level or smaller, they occur more frequently than before, according to ISW data. Ukrainian forces regularly eliminate these groups, as documented by the Critical Threats Project.
Despite this tactical shift, Russia still has enough manpower to sustain intense fighting for another one to two years. However, the invaders cannot build reserves for a major northern offensive. Capturing cities like Sloviansk or Kramatorsk remains unrealistic even over a multi-year horizon.
Russian forces have been ordered to seize as much territory as possible by the end of April, with the primary goal of using gains for propaganda statements on May 9. Anton Zemlyanyi notes:
“Command posts monitor their movement and relay information on where to advance and where to dig in.”
Adapting to New Realities
Russia’s tactical evolution demonstrates its adaptation to modern warfare conditions, particularly the use of cutting-edge technologies like drones and electronic countermeasures. This could reshape combat dynamics, especially for Ukrainian defenses that must respond to emerging threats. Assessing the effectiveness of this new small-unit tactic is critical, as successfully countering these Russian teams may prove vital for maintaining territorial control and preserving strategic initiative.
As Russia adapts its military tactics, the shift towards small-unit operations is not the only strategic change. The country is also revising its missile strategy, opting for concentrated strikes on individual targets. This new approach aims to enhance precision and effectiveness in their attacks. To learn more about how these adjustments are shaping the battlefield dynamics, read our detailed analysis on Russia's evolving missile tactics.