In the autumn of 2025, Ukrainian forces gradually retook Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast - and did so not by throwing in assault regiments but through systematic drone use. American analyst Michael Kofman calls the operation "a good example" of a new Ukrainian approach in a Foreign Affairs article published February 16, 2026.
As "Hvylya" reports, Kofman highlights the Kupiansk counteroffensive as part of a broader account of how Ukrainian forces have evolved tactically.
The operational pattern: drones isolated the area and degraded Russian forces there, allowing infantry to methodically reclaim ground and "ultimately clear much of the city." The key departure from earlier logic - instead of plugging gaps with assault units or launching costly counterattacks, the force relied on tactical innovation. This approach reflects the broader evolution of drone warfare that has reshaped the entire conflict.
"Although this occurred on a secondary front, the operation demonstrated how Ukrainian units can leverage tactical innovation rather than adding assault regiments to close gaps or launching costly counterattacks to reclaim terrain," Kofman writes.
He emphasizes that the Ukrainian armed forces have consistently used technology to compensate for their manpower deficit - and the Kupiansk experience points toward where tactics may head in 2026, as Ukraine develops new systems like interceptor drones and laser air defense to maintain battlefield dominance.
