Russia’s shift to using Iranian-made Shahed drones, and its domestically-made Geran-2 drones, for attacks on Ukraine has created new challenges for air defenses. These cheap and easily modified drones are now used in massive, coordinated attacks, including the use of decoy drones to overload Ukrainian defenses. The Russian army has developed its own manufacturing of Geran-2 drones, increasing the frequency of attacks by up to 800 drones per day. The future of Ukraine is uncertain, as the focus should be on interceptor drones and training military personnel nationwide in their use.
Read More
On the night of June 27-28, Russian forces launched 23 Shahed loitering munitions and decoy drones from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia and Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 22 of the drones, primarily targeting the Odesa region. While the majority were neutralized, a hit was reported in Odesa, and debris from the downed drones fell in eight locations. This attack follows a prior drone strike in Odesa on the evening of June 27, which resulted in the death of a married couple and injuries to two children.
Read More
To bolster its air defenses against intensified Russian drone attacks, Ukraine has approved a program paying civilians up to $2,400 monthly to shoot down drones. This initiative allows volunteers to utilize personal vehicles and hunting weapons, with funding sourced from local government budgets and payout amounts determined by Territorial Defense Force commanders. The program, lasting up to two years or until martial law ends, also aims to formally integrate existing drone pilot volunteers under the Ministry of Defence, providing benefits to the families of those killed in the line of duty. This measure is intended to supplement existing mobile anti-drone units and increase the overall effectiveness of Ukraine’s defenses.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker