New Drone Threat Emerges as Russia Shifts Tactics, Warns Ukrainian Expert Maria Berlinska

Maria Berlinska Sounds Alarm on Escalating Drone Terror

According to Главком: Maria Berlinska, head of the Aerial Reconnaissance Support Center and the Victory Drones tech project, has warned that Russia is intensifying its drone campaign targeting deep-rear Ukrainian cities. She stated that the enemy aims to turn these urban centers into front-line zones, endangering civilian safety, and stressed the urgent need for countermeasures. Berlinska emphasized that Russian occupation forces will seek to sever logistics routes between Ukrainian cities, particularly between Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi, as well as Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia.

Shifting Tactics and Emerging Threats

In an interview with tsn.ua, Maria Berlinska noted that Russian forces will persistently attempt to cut off logistics, not only to Kherson or Sumy but also between other cities. She highlighted potential tactics such as aerial mining of highways and attacks on fuel tankers and passenger trains.

“They are already doing all of this, and will only ramp up these efforts,” Berlinska stressed.

A particularly alarming incident occurred in Kharkiv on February 25, 2025, when a Russian FPV drone using fiber-optic technology was deployed for the first time. Berlinska also pointed to a change in Russian tactics: Lancet kamikaze drones now approach targets in complete radio silence. She remarked:

“I don’t want to scare anyone or create panic... But the truth is, the enemy will increasingly try to break us through drone terror, because it’s a cheap, scalable, and effective method.”

Berlinska underscored the importance of timely measures to protect Ukrainian cities from drone threats. “If we start building countermeasures now, in advance, we can certainly protect our cities from these drone threats through a comprehensive set of actions and tools,” she added. She called for management decisions and the construction of a system capable of minimizing risks from drone attacks.

Berlinska’s warning highlights the growing danger drones pose in modern conflict and the critical need to shift focus toward civilian city safety. As the adversary adapts its tactics, Ukrainian military and government bodies must urgently develop new measures to safeguard infrastructure and people. Ensuring readiness against such threats will be vital to preventing civilian casualties and maintaining stability in at-risk regions.

As the situation escalates, the recent drone attack in Kyiv, which resulted in five casualties, highlights the urgent need for enhanced air defense measures. Understanding the ongoing threats posed by Russian drone strikes is essential for assessing how Ukraine can effectively protect its cities and civilian population from such aggressive tactics.