Russia shatters records with relentless Shahed drone assaults
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has released new data on the use of Shahed drones by the Russians. In September, they launched these unmanned aerial vehicles more frequently than ever before.
8:14 AM EDT, October 2, 2024
"In September 2024, Russia conducted a record number of Shahed drone attacks. In total, Russian terrorists launched 1,339 Shaheds over Ukraine, 1,107 of which were shot down by defenders. In September, there was not a single day when the Russians ceased terrorizing with these drones," the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Russians attack daily with Shahed drones
The Russians have two variants of these drones at their disposal—Shahed-136 and Shahed-131. They have been using them almost from the very beginning of the war. These are unmanned aerial vehicles that Putin's army receives from one of its allies, Iran. Although they are relatively simple constructions, they pose a significant problem for the Ukrainians. The Russians use them on a very large scale, exploiting the fact that Ukrainians suffer from a lack of air defense systems.
The appearance and capabilities of these drones are quite similar. The Shahed-136 measures about 11 feet long and can accelerate to a speed of 115 mph. It also carries a warhead weighing about 88 pounds. The Shahed-131 is somewhat smaller, allowing it to be equipped with a warhead weighing a maximum of 22-33 pounds.
Shahed drones in service of the Russians
The Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 are relatively cheap constructions, making their elimination with advanced air defense systems uneconomical. Thus, Ukrainians are systematically finding alternative solutions.
Among the systems used to counter the Iranian drones employed by the Russians are the VAMPIR missile systems and the German Gepard systems. According to military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko, the VAMPIR missile systems are the best in combating drones.
It is increasingly emphasized that the Russians are systematically modifying these drones. Some units have been painted black to make it harder for Ukrainians to detect and intercept them at night. Shahed-136 drones equipped with a camera and a 4G modem have also been shot down. Recently, Ukrainians shot down a Shahed-136 drone equipped with SpaceX's Starlink satellite communication.
