Russia deploys new cheap drones to locate and hit Ukrainian defenses

Russia has started using new, cheaply produced drones to identify air defense positions and film any damage after their attacks. In the last five attacks, the Russians have used two new types of drones.

The Russians have begun deploying low-cost drones to locate Ukrainian troop positions. These drones often function as "bait" as well.

They are made of plastic elements and plywood, reports a Ukrainian military intelligence officer in an interview with the Reuters agency. They are equipped with a camera and a Ukrainian SIM card, which is used to send pictures to the Russian army.

“They identify where our mobile groups are positioned, where the machine guns are that can destroy them. They're trying ... to get a picture of where all our air defenses are located,” said Andriy Cherniak, a spokesperson for the military intelligence agency.

The Russians also discuss the new technologies they are using. The Russian Armed Forces claim they have started intercepting footage from the drones of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, using it to attack the drone operators.

“The guys can do this, they actually intercept the picture and use it for their own purposes: they identify the enemy’s routes, the drone’s path, they can determine the operator, where it came from,” said a former commander of a communications unit in an interview with the Russian agency TASS.