Snake Island Institute

Defense Tech Monthly – August 2025 Edition

This digest reviews August 2025’s battlefield threats, tech advances, and operational activity in Ukraine’s defense, including:

UGVs:
— Ukraine fielded a “kamikaze mothership” UGV;
— MANPADS-mounted UGV reportedly downed a Russian helicopter.
— Russia pushed Mini-Solntsepyok thermobaric UGVs, unveiled the Argus FPV-carrier UGV (Hermes 2.0 control), and showed a mini Buratino flamethrower UGV.

Ukraine’s Oil War:
– In just two weeks, Ukrainian strikes disrupted 21% of Russia’s oil refining capacity. Strategic targeting of refineries and pipelines hits the financial and logistical backbone of the war.

Interceptors:
— Tekhnari introduced “Mongoose”, a reusable jet-powered interceptor to counter Shahed-136/Geran-2; first squadron formed and prototypes preparing for delivery.

Russian UAV “motherships”:
— Orlan-10 was observed carrying FPVs to extend control range — an emerging relay/transport tactic both sides are testing.

Shahed evolution:
— Russia fitted Shaheds with PTM-3 anti-tank mines, adding a remote-minelaying role beyond kamikaze attacks.

Russian maritime deterioration:
— Failures like Kapitan Ushakov capsizing and the prolonged Admiral Kuznetsov overhaul underscore industrial strain and slow fleet regeneration.

Riverine drone strike:
— Ukraine’s HUR used a Bayraktar TB2 drone armed with a laser-guided bomb to destroy a Russian patrol boat, showcasing Ukraine’s capability to conduct targeted inland operations using air assets.

Aerial Adaptations:
– Helicopters are shifting tactics: less close-range presence, more standoff rocket fire, and mobile air defense patrols. Meanwhile, Ukraine is converting crop-dusting planes into cheap drone interceptors.

“Delta” fully deployed:
— Integrating reconnaissance data from drones, satellites, radars, and electronic intelligence into a single digital map.