In the face of uncertainties surrounding U.S. military support and ongoing peace talks, Ukraine is increasingly relying on a domestically produced drone program to sustain its defense against Russia. The 'Line of Drones' initiative, which expands the use of first-person-view drones, is seen as a crucial Plan B if the United States ceases arms shipments. These drones, which have already contributed to slowing the Russian offensive, are assembled in Ukraine from mostly Chinese components and are designed to offset the numerical advantage of Russian forces with superior technology. Despite the reliance on drones, Ukraine still depends heavily on Western air defense systems to protect its cities. The expansion of the drone program aims to cover the entire front line, complicating Russian operations and reducing the need for direct infantry engagement, which has been challenging due to recruitment issues in Ukraine's military.

The Ukrainian drone program, known as the 'Line of Drones,' focuses on expanding the use of domestically produced first-person-view drones, which are crucial in the event of a U.S. withdrawal of military support.

Ukraine's drone initiative has already shown effectiveness, contributing to a significant slowdown of Russian advances by leveraging superior technological approaches despite Russia's numerical advantage.

The drones are assembled from components primarily sourced from China and are used in conjunction with traditional weapons, which are still partly supplied by the United States.

The Ukrainian military plans to expand the drone program from four battalions to regiments, aiming to saturate the airspace over Russian front lines with reconnaissance and strike drones to disrupt Russian logistics.

Ukraine's reliance on drones stems from the difficulty in recruiting soldiers for direct combat, as draft evasion becomes widespread, making the drone program a strategic necessity to limit casualties.

The drones have proven to be cost-effective, with each unit costing significantly less than traditional artillery shells, which has attracted the attention of other militaries such as the U.S. Marine Corps.

Despite the success of the drone strategy, Ukraine remains dependent on U.S. and European air defense systems to protect urban areas from missile attacks, highlighting the ongoing need for international military support.