Russia plans to weaken Ukraine's defense ahead of winter

In its most recent announcement, the British Ministry of Defense stated that Russia is likely implementing measures designed to weaken Ukrainian air defense. These actions are believed to be part of preparations for a planned, coordinated attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this winter, with Shahed-136 drones used in recent attacks.

In the latest daily intelligence update, the British Ministry of Defense reported that approximately 50 Shahed drones, originating from Iran, were launched by Russia on November 18-19. Most of these were directed towards the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and were found in two waves from Kursk in the east and Krasnodar in southeastern Russia.

The British Ministry of Defense suggested that one potential objective of Russia's plan is to weaken Ukrainian air defense. Such maneuvers may be part of a strategy preparing for a coordinated attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, anticipated to occur this winter.

The British Ministry of Defense also speculated that Russia refrained from deploying its most sophisticated air-to-ground missiles from its fleet of heavy bombers for roughly two months. This could potentially enable Russia to accumulate significant stockpiles of such weapons. It was suggested that it's highly likely that Russia would utilize these missiles if it decided to renew last year's campaign targeting Ukraine's crucial infrastructure.

The Shahed-136 drones are relatively new Iranian unmanned aircraft, with production having only started recently. However, the idea for these drones can be traced back to the 1980s, when the Republic of South Africa decided to design a drone to tackle radar stations. After years of development and modernization, Shahed-136s came into being.

Equipped with a Chinese version of the German Limbach L550E engine, Mado MD550, the drone can reach speeds of approximately 115 mph and operate at a height of up to 2.49 miles. The exact range of the Iranian design remains unclear, with different sources providing varying values. While some suggest the Shahed-136 may reach up to 1,553 miles, others report that the drone can only reach 621 miles.

Presently, the Russian and Iranian militaries use Shahed-136s. Notably, the drone's takeoff weight is 441 pounds, with the payload accounting for 88 pounds.