Shahed drone assaults reach unprecedented pace in Ukraine conflict
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has released new data on the Russians' use of Shahed drones. In September, they launched these unmanned aerial vehicles, whose key features we highlight, more frequently than ever before.
"In September 2024, Russia conducted a record number of Shahed drone attacks. In total, Russian terrorists launched 1,339 Shaheds over Ukraine, 1,107 of which were shot down by defenders. In September, there was not a single day when the Russians ceased terrorizing with these drones," the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The Russians have two variants of these drones at their disposal - Shahed-136 and Shahed-131. They have been using them almost from the very beginning of the war. These are unmanned aerial vehicles that Putin's army receives from one of its allies - Iran. Although they are relatively simple constructions, they pose a significant problem for the Ukrainians. The Russians use them on a very large scale, exploiting the fact that Ukrainians suffer from a lack of air defence systems.
The appearance and capabilities of these drones are quite similar. The Shahed-136 measures about 3.3 metres long and can accelerate to a speed of 185 kilometres per hour. It also carries a warhead weighing about 40 kilograms. The Shahed-131 is somewhat smaller, allowing it to be equipped with a warhead weighing 10-15 kilograms.
Shahed drones in service of the Russians
The Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 are relatively cheap constructions, making their elimination with advanced air defence systems uneconomical. Thus, Ukrainians are systematically finding alternative solutions.
The Russians use the VAMPIR missile systems and the German Gepard systems to counter Iranian drones. According to military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko, the VAMPIR missile systems are the best in fighting drones.
It is increasingly emphasized that the Russians are systematically implementing modifications to these drones. Some units have been painted black to make it harder for Ukrainians to detect and intercept them at night. Shahed-136 drones equipped with a camera and a 4G modem have also been shot down, and recently, Ukrainians shot down a Shahed-136 drone equipped with SpaceX's Starlink satellite communication.
