Drones

Drones

While many people are aware of Predator drones used for counterinsurgency operations, unmanned systems of a wide variety have relevance in a wide range of applications—including great-power competition. Unmanned aerial systems have been used in the war in Ukraine for artillery spotting with devastating effect, and swarms of drone planes and ships have been demonstrated by Chinese state firms.

Content

UkraineAlert

Oct 15, 2026

Russia’s Starlink substitute poses a security threat far beyond Ukraine

By Joshua Stein

The Kremlin is currently in the process of deploying a satellite communications network known as Rassvet, creating concerns for the Russian invasion of Ukraine and for the wider international security environment, writes Joshua Stein.

China Conflict

UkraineAlert

Oct 15, 2026

Ukraine reports more battlefield gains as Putin’s invasion loses momentum

By David Kirichenko

Kyiv has reported further battlefield gains this week as the country’s Operation Vivaldi counteroffensive in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region continues to advance, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Oct 13, 2026

Putin snubs Trump’s ceasefire as Russia aims to make Ukraine unlivable

By Maksym Beznosiuk, William Dixon

Hours after US President Donald Trump’s surprise Sunday announcement of an energy ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, Russia responded by bombing a series of Ukrainian power plants, write Maksym Beznosiuk and William Dixon.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Oct 8, 2026

Ukraine can help Europe counter Russia’s escalating shadow war

By Ryan Prior, Maria Kovach

From Leipzig Airport to the Black Sea, Russia’s campaign of gray zone aggression against Europe has been escalating at an alarming rate in recent months. Ukraine's experience can help European leaders find the right response, write Ryan Prior and Maria Kovach.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Oct 8, 2026

Starving Ukrainians must travel ‘road of death’ to flee Russian occupation

By Oleksandr Tolokonnikov

A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine as the Kremlin authorities refuse to allow the evacuation of starving Ukrainian civilians trapped in front line city Oleshky, writes Oleksandr Tolokonnikov.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Oct 8, 2026

Russia’s jet drones pose a security threat far beyond Ukraine

By Leonid Baratz

Russian jet drones are currently terrorizing Ukraine’s civilian population and disrupting daily life for millions of people. It is only a matter of time before other countries are also confronted by this threat, writes Leonid Baratz.

Conflict Defense Technologies

UkraineAlert

Oct 6, 2026

We are staying: European diplomats reject Russian calls to leave Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

European embassies in Kyiv sent a message of defiance to Moscow this week following the Kremlin’s latest call for diplomats to leave Ukraine, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Oct 6, 2026

Jet drones are Putin’s secret weapon as he seeks to break Ukraine

By Mykola Bielieskov

Russia’s air war against Ukraine has recently entered a deadly new phase with round-the-clock jet drone attacks on civilian targets across Kyiv as Vladimir Putin seeks to make the Ukrainian capital unlivable and break the country’s resistance, writes Mykola Bielieskov.

Conflict Defense Technologies

UkraineAlert

Oct 1, 2026

Putin aims to break Ukraine by terrorizing the civilian population

By Peter Dickinson

With the Russian army unable to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, Putin is turning to terror tactics and is using ballistic missiles and jet drones in a bid to bomb Ukraine's civilian population into submission, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Sep 29, 2026

Europe needs a new strategy for Russian gray zone aggression

By Maksym Beznosiuk, William Dixon

Europe needs a new counter-hybrid playbook, but an approach that focuses on coordinating responses after Russian attacks have already taken place is not an effective deterrent, write Maksym Beznosiuk and William Dixon.

Cybersecurity Defense Policy
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Experts

Fellow

Fanny Fang-Yi Chao

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Chinese

Staff

Moss Gillespie

Program Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Artificial Intelligence Defense Policy

Fellow

Thomas X. Hammes

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Conflict Defense Industry

Fellow

Dominika Kunertova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Artificial Intelligence Central Europe