Ukraine’s AI Drones Are Hunting Russian Supply Lines

BusinessAerospace & DefenseUkraine’s AI Drones Are Hunting Russian Supply LinesByDavid Kirichenko,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. David Kirichenko is a journalist focusing on war and technology.Follow AuthorMay 12, 2026, 01:07pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.1st Azov Corps AI-drone strike. Social Media CaptureAt a forward command post in Kharkiv Oblast in the summer of 2025, I watched Ukrainian soldiers send an AI-enabled drone toward a Russian target. In the final seconds, the drone locked on by itself. Moments later, another target appeared on the screen. A second drone was launched. Minutes later, it struck.For Ukrainian drone operators, this is becoming the new rhythm of war: machines identifying targets faster, reaching deeper behind Russian lines, and striking not just frontline troops but the logistics networks that keep Moscow’s offensive moving.“Technology has advanced, reshaping the battlefield,” Heorhii Volkov, commander of the Yasni Ochi drone unit of Ukraine’s 13th Khartiia Brigade, told me. His unit uses Hornet, an AI-enabled drone reportedly costing less than $6,000 and developed with support tied to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s defense technology initiatives. Members of the Yasni Ochi drone unit oversee a drone bombing mission.Photo: Ryan Van ErtThe systems combine autonomous targeting, advanced communications and software refined through battlefield feedback.“These are not just drones but platforms built on artificial intelligence and advanced communications technology that could also be adapted for fixed-wing aircraft or ground robots,” he said.MORE FOR YOUUkraine is increasingly attacking the entire Russian combat system instead of isolated weapons. “When we began striking 30 to 40 kilometers behind enemy lines, we immediately saw results,” Volkov said. The independent Finnish open-source intelligenc...