I’m not sure how you construe “country implements desperate measures during time of existential crisis” with technology only working for a small cabal? If anything this shows that this particular technology is more egalitarian than its predecessors, since it’s cheap and being used effectively by a smaller country defending itself against the territorial ambitions of its imperialist neighbor.

Or, Putin could have decided not to invade Ukraine.

Most drone techs and engineers in Ukraine as well as Russia would prefer a civilian job instead of fighting a protracted war.