Ukraine: The Latest Russian army suffers highest daily loss of the year & the horror of friendly fire with Hamish de Bretton-Gordon and James Hewitt
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Mar 18, 2026 Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former Royal Armoured Corps officer and defence analyst, and James Hewitt, retired cavalry officer and charity trustee, discuss frontline fighting near Kupyansk, Russia’s spike in casualties, the role of drones in modern warfare, propaganda and information control, a drifting tanker environmental risk, and veteran-led humanitarian work supporting displaced Ukrainian families.
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Drones Are Driving Massive Russian Casualties
- Russian casualties spiked to 1,710 in one day, largely from drone strikes rather than ground advances.
- Ukraine reports drone units killed ~900 in southwest attacks and another ~277 by midday, showing drones dominate modern attrition.
Drones Have Restored Brutal Attrition To The Battlefield
- Drones have reintroduced World War One levels of attrition by removing tactical surprise and turning many hits into fatalities.
- Hamish and James compare drone-driven slaughter to trench-era casualty rates and emphasise micro airspace contest.
Russian Leadership Admits Strategic Vulnerability
- Sergei Shoigu publicly acknowledged Ukraine's long‑range strikes surged to ~23,000 last year, framing deep Russian regions as now in threat range.
- Analysts see Shoigu's statements as justifying possible wider mobilisations and internal controls in Russia.