Ukraine Uses Drone Tech, Spy Aid to Capture Russian Soldiers, Jam Attack Drones

Russian forces have increasingly relied on Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones in their war against Ukraine, launching over 100 daily attacks with these munitions. Ukraine has prioritized countering these drones, enlisting a Chinese spy who quickly obtained critical hardware, documents, and software that enabled Ukrainian experts to develop jammers that force Shaheds off course, causing many to crash or stray into neighboring countries. Meanwhile, Russia is collaborating with North Korea to help produce Shahed-type drones and other military technologies, including ballistic missiles, which could alter the military balance in the Indo-Pacific region. North Korea has also deployed thousands of elite soldiers to support Russian troops, rapidly advancing their skills in drone warfare and electronic combat, shifting from outdated tactics to modern battlefield strategies. Ukrainian intelligence warns that North Korea could send up to 150,000 additional troops to fight alongside Russia, raising concerns in South Korea about future threats stemming from North Korean combat experience gained in Ukraine. These developments underscore the expanding international dimensions of the conflict and the evolving nature of drone and electronic warfare on the front lines.