After eight months, Kostiantynivka is falling: Ukraine's drone-centric defense may miss it less than before

After eight months of fighting, the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast is falling. Russia's first strategic victory of the year has turned the city into ruins. Ukraine's defense, heavily reliant on drones, may not feel the loss as acutely as it would have in the past. Some Ukrainian commanders even prefer to fight in the open fields behind the city rather than attempt to hold a ruined settlement. This suggests a shift in warfare tactics, where holding onto cities is no longer a priority if they are completely destroyed.