Russia prepares to launch thousands of 'Shakheds' at once: The Economist assesses the situation.

Russia is preparing for a large-scale attack on Ukraine

According to The Economist, Russia plans to launch over 1000 'Shakhed' drones simultaneously over Ukrainian territory. The new strikes are becoming increasingly complex, forcing Ukrainian air defense systems to adapt to new threats.

Drone attacks are becoming more frequent, instead of being an exceptional case of their use. Russia has increased the production of 'Shakhed' drones to the extent that it can now produce hundreds of such drones daily, aiming for a target of 500 units per day.

Ukrainian aviation expert Konstantin Kryvolap expressed doubts about the possibility of launching a thousand drones at once, calling this statement rather propagandistic. However, the expert acknowledged the increase in drone production and noted the problems with the reliability of reporting in the Russian defense industry.

Russia constantly modifies 'Shakheds', which have already undergone six versions of improvements since they began to be supplied from Iran in 2023. Ukrainian specialists expressed concern about how Russian drones evade Ukrainian electronic warfare tools, using networks and artificial intelligence for navigation.

Russian drones are even controlled via Telegram bots, providing operators with access to all necessary information during flight. This indicates an escalation of the threat posed by Russia and requires Ukrainian defense forces to seek and implement new strategies for action.

Analysis

The emergence of such a large number of drones in Russian hands poses a serious threat to Ukraine, which must strengthen its security measures and countermeasures. Russian activity at the state level and modernization of their military technologies require Ukrainian military forces to constantly analyze and respond to new challenges.