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ConflictsUkraine

Russia gains ground in Ukraine with new battlefield tactics

Jürgen Arnold
September 5, 2025

By using infiltration tactics, Russian forces are advancing deeper into Ukraine. In the fourth year of the war, large Russian tank brigades are a thing of the past. Instead, mobile units are making territorial gains.

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Russia's latest battlefield tactic in Ukraine relies on infiltration: Small soldier units, often on motorbikes or on foot, are advancing through gaps in Ukraine's defenses. Drones guide the fighters and gather intelligence. Large tank convoys are rare now and being replaced by stealthy night operations, experts say. The tactic is proving effective where Ukrainian drone surveillance of the frontline is weak.