Russian drone surge tests Ukrainian defences amid escalation
Russia has launched hundreds of drones and dozens of ballistic missiles towards Ukraine. As "The Economist" warns, this could risk overwhelming Ukrainian air defences.
What do you need to know?
- Russia has intensified air attacks, launching hundreds of drones and dozens of ballistic missiles in one day. This could overwhelm Ukrainian air defences.
- New Shahed drones are being upgraded and use machine learning, making them harder to intercept. Russia plans to increase production to 500 per day.
- Ukrainian air defence shoots down about 95 per cent of the drones, but those that break through cause significant damage.
What are the effects of the intensified attacks?
Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine, launching hundreds of drones and dozens of ballistic missiles in one day. The weekly "The Economist" warns that such actions could overwhelm Ukrainian air defences.
From Saturday night to Sunday morning, Russia likely set a record by sending 298 drones and 69 ballistic missiles. If negotiations for a ceasefire fail, Ukrainian air defence units must ration interceptor missiles.
What technologies is Russia using?
The new Shahed drones that Russia received from Iran are being improved and use machine learning, making them harder to intercept. These drones no longer rely on GPS signals but use artificial intelligence and Ukrainian cellular networks. Russia plans to increase production to 500 per day, which would allow for attacks using up to a thousand drones.
How is Ukraine handling the attacks?
Ukrainian air defence shoots down about 95 per cent of Russian drones, but the 5 per cent that do get through cause significant damage. Ukraine uses helicopters, F-16 fighters, and interceptor drones against the drones.
However, it is more challenging to stop ballistic missiles, which are mainly intercepted by American Patriot systems. Ukraine has at least eight batteries of this system but needs at least 10 more.
