Written By: Natalia Rodriguez Syzonova
Supervised By: Aurora D’Auria, Élea Huguet & Finn Seiffert
Edited By: Alexandra Huggins
ABSTRACT
Modern warfare has shifted from conquering physical space to reshaping the human element within the theatre of war. Since UAVs are unable to maintain a fixed ground position, soldiers will ultimately define the line of defence. Therefore, degrading troops’ mental endurance could be regarded as a strategic victory. As drones become more advanced, the mental stress soldiers face will intensify, altering the nature of conflict and survival.
Despite limited existing literature, this paper argues that UAVs function far beyond tools of kinetic attrition. In Ukraine, sensory overload will lead to tactical paralysis, fratricide, and paranoia. These cognitive stressors will affect the troops’ operational readiness, leading to systematic failures, including desertion. Ultimately, success in a drone-saturated environment will depend on one’s ability to assess and strengthen military capability to engage in combat: shielding both the physical terrain and human mind. This will require a radical shift in European defence readiness and psychological resilience.
