The use of civilian-type drones for artillery spotting has been a boost to both sides. A drone can stand off and help sight in artillery fire, and when you have lots to call on, it’s devastating.
We are used to air superiority ruling the day. But here, a simple eye-in-the-sky gives front line troops the ability to direct fire without exposure, and they don’t have to wait for somebody half a world away to clear it.
Both sides are shooting down the other’s drones. But the Russians don’t need a Predator or similar expensive type, just a flying camera that’s less than #1,000 on eBay.
Scenarios:
1) If you can, and it’s not easy, try to find details of the battles of the 1945-1949 Chinese civil war that erased Chiang Kai Shek and replaced him with the CCP — and btw created the entire Taiwan situation. You’ll find, if you can, descriptions of army movements, but each army (plural) numbered over 1 million men. Imagine the logistics.
2) Post Ukraine war, there is no Taiwan to flee to, but the civilian populace has a choice. Stay in poverty-stricken Ukraine (it will not be worse than the poverty of last year, which was bad enough) or accept one of the many refugee long term visa opportunities in the US, UK and EU. Note, from a US census perspective, these people are white. This is why a WW II France style Resistance is unlikely. French families had nowhere to flee.
3) All over the world there are non NATO offshore oil platforms pumping substantial oil totals. Nigeria and Angola add to 3 million bpd. Libya and Egypt add to over 1 mbpd. No reason the Russians can’t bomb those oil wells. Eliminate EU alternatives. Everything on planet Earth is about oil. Everything.