The BBC reports from Donetsk where swarms of fibre optic drones give Russia the edge as Ukraine defends towns behind the front line.

Moscow claims to have downed almost 300 Ukrainian drones overnight as Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to meet German chancellor Friedrich Merz in Germany to continue peace talks.The Russian defence ministry earlier claimed to have intercepted 100 drones,

Drones now kill more soldiers and destroy more armored vehicles in Ukraine than all traditional weapons of war combined,” Ukrainian officials and commanders said in an interview with The New York Times.

Drone warfare is evolving at rapid speed, with Ukraine a testing ground where companies can refine their products. Those not there are missing out.

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its third year, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have solidified their role as a pivotal force in both offensive and defensive operations. Recently, fiber-optic-guided drones,

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Berlin today for talks on ending the war after Germany became Ukraine's last major backer to allow use of long-range missiles against Russia. Meanwhile, Moscow said it downed nearly 300 Ukrainian drones over Russia overnight.

The dead included three children in the northern region of Zhytomyr, local officials said. Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the U.S. to speak out.

American weapons are important, but Ukrainian drones have changed everything.

Russian forces launched 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities overnight, including the capital Kyiv, in the largest aerial attack of the war.

Belgium's defense minister compared the revolutionary impact of drones to that of gunpowder, as Europe boosts drone production for Ukraine.