Drones and Urban Warfare in Ukraine

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of drones on urban warfare in Ukraine, featuring insights from Dr. Anthony Tingle based on his experiences in the region.

In this episode, John Spencer is joined by Dr. Anthony Tingle, an independent researcher who has made nine trips to Ukraine since the start of the war, most recently returning from Kherson and Mykolaiv. Drawing on firsthand observations from numerous urban battles, including Sumy and Kherson, the conversation explores how urban warfare is being reshaped by the persistent presence of drones, especially the widespread use of Shahed one-way attack systems. Tingle describes a battlespace where drone attacks are so frequent they have become part of daily life, and where layered, improvised air defenses, from machine-guns to mobile teams and emerging interceptor drones, reflect a rapid cycle of adaptation. The discussion highlights how Ukraine has built a distributed, low-cost air defense network using acoustic sensors, small radars, and shared intelligence to counter an evolving aerial threat. It also underscores a defining feature of this war—the fusion of high-tech and low-tech warfare that is reshaping how cities are fought over and survived.

People in this episode

Host: John Spencer

Guest: Dr Anthony Tingle

Topics covered

• drones
• urban warfare
• Ukraine
• air defense
• military technology

Keywords

• Shahed drones
• urban battles
• Kherson
• Mykolaiv
• air defense network

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Shahed, acoustic sensors, small radars, interceptor drones

Places: Ukraine, Kherson, Mykolaiv

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