Russia has started using new, low-cost drones in its long-range assaults on Ukraine. According to a Ukrainian military intelligence official, the purpose is to identify air defences, record any damage, and serve as decoys. The two new types of drones, which Russia has employed in five attacks over the past two to three weeks, including an overnight strike on Thursday, are constructed from materials such as foam plastic and plywood, the official informed Reuters. One type is equipped with a camera and a Ukrainian mobile phone SIM card to transmit images to the Russian military.
“They identify where our mobile groups are positioned, where the machine guns that can destroy them. They’re trying … to get a picture of where all our air defences are located,” said Andriy Cherniak, a military spy agency spokesperson.
The previously unreported details from Cherniak are further evidence of Russia seeking to adapt its tactics and try new technology to gain an edge during its daily missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones, which fly to their target and detonate on impact, have become a staple of Russian aerial attacks since they began being used in the first year of Russia’s full-scale invasion launched in February 2022.
Ukraine, which has been appealing to the West to provide more air defences to repel increased Russian airstrikes on its power facilities since March, tries hard to conceal the locations of its air defence systems.
The new Russian drones with cameras do not carry explosives but closely resemble regular Shahed drones and fly with groups of them, Cherniak said. The second new type of drone contains no explosive charge or only a small one and is being used as a decoy, Cherniak added. Because it is virtually indistinguishable from a regular attack drone from the ground, it still needs to be shot down, revealing where Ukraine’s air defence systems are located.
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)
