What Is VALK-1? 'Powerful' Ukrainian Drone Fighting Russia in Donetsk

The drones are described as "all-weather," something which is a "key development," according to Samuel Bendett of the U.S. think tank the Center for Naval Analyses.

They can "now operate in the very difficult and unpredictable winter conditions," he told Newsweek.

Both Moscow and Kyiv are racing to find ways of operating their own drones during harsh weather conditions, like wind and sleet, Bendett added.

"It remains to be seen if the Ukrainian claims of all the weather drone operations can stand up to the harsh conditions of the next several months," he said.

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Russia has also built up its arsenal of uncrewed vehicles, particularly first-person-view drones. Although Ukraine had initially dominated FPV manufacturing in 2023, Russia has ramped up its programs and sent large numbers of unmanned vehicles to the front lines, Bendett previously told Newsweek.

Russia's FPV development has probably "grown exponentially," Bendett said, although it is difficult to determine how many FPV drones are present on and above the battlefield.

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