Latest News

Russia releases inexpensive drones to locate Ukraine's air defences

Russia has actually started consisting of new, cheaplymade drones in its longrange attacks on Ukraine, to try to recognize air defences, movie any damage and serve as decoys, a Ukrainian military spy authorities said.

The 2 brand-new types of drone, which Russia has actually utilized in 5 drone attacks in the last 2 to 3 weeks consisting of an overnight strike on Thursday, are produced from materials like foam plastic and plywood, the main told .

One type brings a video camera and a Ukrainian smart phone SIM card to send images back to the Russian military.

They recognize where our mobile groups are placed, where the machine guns are that can ruin them. They're attempting ... to get an image of where all our air defences lie, said Andriy Cherniak, a military spy firm spokesperson.

The previously unreported information from Cherniak are more proof of Russia seeking to adjust its techniques and attempt brand-new technology to get an edge during its daily missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and facilities.

Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones, which fly to their target and detonate on effect, have actually ended up being a staple of Russian aerial attacks since they began being used in the first year of Russia's full-scale intrusion introduced in February 2022.

Ukraine, which has actually been appealing to the West to provide more air defences to push back increased Russian airstrikes on its power centers given that March, strives to conceal the areas of its air defence systems.

The new Russian drones with cameras do not carry explosives but carefully resemble regular Shahed drones and fly with groups of them, Cherniak stated.

The 2nd brand-new type of drone contains no explosive charge or just a small one and is being used as a decoy, Cherniak added.

Since it is virtually identical from a regular attack drone from the ground, it still requires to be shot down, revealing where Ukraine's air defence systems are located.

He stated the new drones probably cost as little as $10,000. each despite their long variety, making them far less expensive to. produce than air defence rockets.

The drones can also fly at an altitude of 1,000 m (3,000. feet), putting them out of variety of machine guns and automatic. rifles, he said.

Russia's intrusion of Ukraine has actually worked as a testing ground. for drone warfare technology, with both sides utilizing attack and. reconnaissance drones on the battleground extensively. Kyiv has. poured energy into domestic drone production to narrow the gap. in between its strike capabilities and Moscow's, staging long-range. drone attacks on Russian targets consisting of oil refineries.

Russia states its long-range aerial attacks are used to. degrade Ukraine militarily. Ukraine says Russia's attacks have. hit civilian buildings and triggered major damage to civilian. energy centers and loss of civilian life.

Russian troops occupy around 18% of Ukrainian area and. have been making incremental gains in the east in current months,. putting Kyiv on the back foot along a 1,000-km

(source: Reuters)