Ukrainian servicemen have expressed growing concern about the limited effectiveness of Western weapons in the face of increased electronic countermeasures from Russia. This problem has particularly affected the UAV battalion of the 92nd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This unit, which actively uses unmanned aerial vehicles (about 3000 UAVs per month), has encountered difficulties in using some modern drones and types of Western-made weapons. The reason is the high vulnerability of advanced GPS guidance systems to Russian electronic warfare.

At a recent briefing in London organised by the UK-based Friends of Ukraine organisation, Rustam Norgudin, an officer in the battalion’s administration, said that in the current combat conditions, a number of high-tech systems, such as the GPS-guided Excalibur artillery shells, cannot perform their function properly. While traditional ammunition and technology can operate in conditions of strong electronic countermeasures, more advanced weapons designed for pinpoint operations face serious limitations.

Norgudin cites targeted Russian attacks on GPS navigation, including the use of signal spoofing and jamming systems, as the main problem. This causes Western systems to lose their accuracy and effectiveness, and in conditions where the enemy is actively jamming signals, GPS-based operations become virtually impossible. Russian forces, according to Norgudin, have developed a powerful electronic warfare system that allows them to effectively protect their units and facilities by making it difficult or blocking the guidance and control of projectiles and drones coming from Ukraine’s Western allies.