Russia Torments Kyiv With New Tactic of Nonstop Waves of Drones

Live updates

1. 14d ago

   Russia Increases Jet-Powered Drone Waves as Ukraine Scales Long-Range Strikes

   Russia has adopted a tactic of launching nonstop waves of drones, including a surge in jet-powered models. Moscow fired 800 jet-powered drones into Ukraine over a four-day period, with July usage increasing fivefold compared to June. In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered the military to triple daily long-range strikes on Russia, aiming to launch 1,000 drones per day. Ukraine is simultaneously developing four prospective interceptors specifically designed to counter these faster jet-powered Shahed drones as Russian missiles and drones continue to ravage the country.

   Why it matters

   The shift toward high-volume, high-speed drone warfare marks a more destructive phase of the conflict. Ukraine's transition to massive drone campaigns reflects an effort to match Russian tactics. The development of specialized interceptors is critical because jet-powered drones are harder to shoot down than standard propeller models.

   What is confirmed

   • Russia launched 800 jet-powered drones into Ukraine over four days.
   • The use of jet-powered drones by Russia in July was five times higher than in June.
   • President Zelenskyy ordered the military to triple daily long-range strikes on Russia.
   • Ukraine is developing four prospective interceptors to target jet-powered Shahed drones.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Zelenskyy plans to hit Russia with 1,000 drones a day.
   • Moscow vowed massive strikes following a missile attack on Belgorod that killed two people.

   What to watch next

   • Deployment of the four new interceptors against jet-powered drones
   • Evidence of Ukraine reaching the target of 1,000 daily drone strikes
   • Russian response to the increased volume of long-range Ukrainian strikes
   Sources used for this update (10)

   1. WSJ — The Russia-Ukraine War Gets More Ruthless and Destructive—but No Closer to Ending
   2. The Guardian — Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy orders military to triple daily long-range strikes on Russia
   3. Al Jazeera — Ukraine’s Zelenskyy plans to hit Russia with ‘1,000 drones’ a day
   4. The Independent — How Ukraine is trying to beat Russia at its own game with massive drone strike campaign
   5. Українська правда — Ukraine has developed four prospective interceptors for jet-powered Shahed drones
   6. The Independent — Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow vows ‘massive strikes’ as missile attack on Belgorod kills two
   7. The New York Times — Russia Torments Kyiv With New Tactic of Nonstop Waves of Drones
   8. The Guardian — Russia fires 800 jet-powered drones into Ukraine in four days
   9. CNN — Ukraine racing to develop new interceptors as Russian drones and missiles ravage the country
   10. Українська правда — Russia used five times as many jet-powered drones in July as in June
   confidence 90%