cripple drones on the 1,200-km front. Batteries drain faster, cameras and wires freeze, and devices ice up, hindering both sides’ use of cheap reconnaissance and combat drones. Some drones are now tethered by ultra-thin fiber-optic cables to resist jamming, and interceptor drones defend against incoming attacks. Yet -20°C weather creates widespread malfunctions for equipment and operators alike, with pilots like Nazariy noting that frost, low clouds, and fog complicate flights and can cause short-circuits or in-flight breakage. To cope, Ukrainian engineers improvise with old-school fixes such as rubbing grease or even lard on components to insulate and help takeoffs. Despite the hardships, drones remain central to the war, and operators insist they must be used within practical limits. Winter also enhances battlefield visibility: snow tracks reveal movements, increasing battlefield detectability, while some drones carry thermal imaging to better Spot heat signatures in cold conditions. The harsh weather compounds the civilian toll: Russia’s intensified long-range strikes on energy infrastructure worsen Ukraine’s energy crisis, leaving hundreds of thousands cold and without power. On the ground, infantry endure brutal cold; ice and frost increase trauma severity, and hypothermia worsens injuries. Yet, Ukrainian forces press on, determined to maintain drone coverage. As one operator consoles, “We are at war. We work in any weather.” (Bssnews)