Has it begun? Russia attacks with drones again
Following several weeks of respite, Russia has escalated its attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Over the last two nights, Russian forces have staged several assault sequences using Shahed drones. The attack was confirmed by the city's military administration on Sunday, November 19.
11:21 AM EST, November 19, 2023
Serhij Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, described the situation in a Telegram post: "Enemy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were launched in numerous groups and waves, attacking Kyiv from various directions, whilst constantly altering their routes." Popko stated that due to this situation, air raid alerts were sounded several times in the Ukrainian capital.
Furthermore, Popko reported that, according to initial data, Ukrainian air defense systems succeeded in destroying nearly 10 Iranian Shahed drones that assaulted Kyiv and its surrounding regions. As of now, there are no reports of "critical damages" or casualties resulting from these attacks, he added.
After 52 days of lull, at the beginning of this month, Moscow recommenced air raids on Kyiv. On Saturday, Ukrainian officials reported that all drones headed towards Kyiv were destroyed. However, some managed to strike infrastructure facilities in other parts of Ukraine.
The resurgence of Russian attacks after several weeks off was an action Ukrainians had previously anticipated. According to Kyiv, Russian Federation troops had been awaiting favorable weather conditions to attack. With the onset of winter, Ukrainians are bracing for heavy and concentrated Russian strikes on critical infrastructure.
Shahed-136 drones
Shaheds are Iranian-made drones that Russia routinely employs to target Ukrainian territories. This Iranian weapon is particularly effective in swarm attacks – a strategy likely to be adopted by the aggressor's army in the upcoming weeks.
While Shahed-136 drones have been utilized on the frontline for some time, their full specification remains undisclosed. However, it is reported that an individual unmanned drone measures around 11.5 ft in length, with an approximate wingspan of 8.2 ft. Shahed-136 is powered by a Limbach L550E engine, producing an estimated 50 HP and propelling the drone to speeds of roughly 115 mph. The operational range of this weapon is around 621 miles, with some sources suggesting it could extend to 1,553 miles. The Shahed-136's warhead weighs around 88 lbs.
