From frontline to feed: how first person view drones in Ukraine are reshaping the character of warfare
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2025-04-12
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en
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This research focuses on the large-scale deployment of First Person View (FPV) drones in the war between Russia and Ukraine and its implications for modern warfare. This war is considered the first high-intensity drone war and the first social media war. Within this war, FPV drones play a central role. Whereas previously mainly larger drones were used, the emergence of commercially available FPV drones has fundamentally changed the battlefield. This qualitative study, based on document analysis and semi-structured interviews, analyses the deployment of FPV drones at tactical, operational and strategic levels. At the tactical level, they are mainly used for reconnaissance and attacks. At the same time, they disseminate video footage via social media that contributes to crowdfunding and recruitment, leading to participatory warfare. The study also highlights the broader implications of commercial actors and the ethical and legal issues surrounding autonomous systems. It shows that FPV drones not only transform the battlefield but also lead to new forms of civic engagement and strategic action, with commercial and technological actors playing a central role. The findings offer valuable insights for both the war in Ukraine and future wars in which drones will play a key role.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen