In the quiet hours of the night, the sky above Ukraine is no longer filled with the looming threat of Russian attacks. The rain has softened, and Ukrainian drone crews, cloaked in green and red lights to avoid detection, prepare for a new mission. A series of FP-2 drones, small but powerful, are lined up for an attack run deep into occupied Luhansk, over 200 miles away. These drones, with a 6-meter wingspan and over 100 kilograms of explosives, use a piston engine similar to a scooter but are powered by a jet booster that makes a distinctive, almost painful sound. As the last drone takes off, the Ukrainian 413 Raid drone regiment packs up, ready to return to base. This scene is repeated nightly by dozens of Ukrainian crews, marking a shift in the war from traditional warfare to one dominated by drones and long-range strikes. The Raid unit, a specialized drone force established two years ago, has been using Ukrainian-designed FP-2 drones since last autumn. Skipper, a former IT worker and now a unit commander, says the pace of operations has grown dramatically. “We can do 10 times more missions now than when we started,” he notes. However, he cautions that the war is not without risks. “They can do it as well,” he says, referring to the possibility of Russian retaliation. The FP-2, first publicly acknowledged in September 2023, is designed to hit hardened targets and disrupt Russian logistics. Its effectiveness has helped slow Russian advances, with Russia gaining only 90 square kilometers in August compared to 505 square kilometers the previous year. Western officials estimate that Russia is losing more soldiers than it can replace each month. In Ukraine’s complex military structure, the Unmanned System Forces, including Raid, work alongside regular army units and special forces. Major attacks, like the September 20 strike on a Moscow refinery, involve multiple drone units operating simultaneously. A long-range strike could involve up to 300 drones, with the goal of launching 1,000 per night in a coordinated effort. The FP-1, a $75,000 long-range drone, has been used to target military and economic sites deep inside Russia, contributing to a 7.7% drop in crude oil production. This has had ripple effects on Russia’s economy, with interest rates remaining high. On the Ukrainian side, drone units like Unit 17 in Donetsk are operating with precision, using a $25,000 Sych drone to conduct bombing runs far behind enemy lines. Znakhar, a former software developer, explains that the unit uses satellite and drone reconnaissance to identify targets and plan routes that avoid populated areas. Ananas, a former video game designer, notes that the war has brought a new level of realism to his work. Meanwhile, Russia has been upgrading its drone arsenal with jet-powered models, allowing for faster and more effective strikes. The new Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones, capable of speeds up to 600 km/h, are harder to intercept than older models, increasing the threat to Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian areas. As the war continues, both sides are adapting, but the balance of power remains uncertain, with the conflict showing no signs of abating.