Russia's drone blitz: Ukraine boasts major air defense win

Ukrainian air defense successfully neutralized 88 of the 132 drones deployed by Russian forces in an attack on the night of November 28 to 29, according to information provided by the Ukrainian air forces. Thanks to the effective use of advanced electronic warfare measures, approximately 40 drones lost communication.

"The enemy attacked Ukraine with 132 Shahed-type strike drones and unidentified drones from the directions of Oryol, Millerovo, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia," was conveyed in a Telegram statement. Air defense systems shot down the drones in the regions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa.

41 unmanned aerial vehicles lost communication due to electronic warfare measures applied by the Defense Forces, and one returned to Russia. As a result of the Russian attack, infrastructure, cars, and residential buildings were damaged in several regions of Ukraine. Assistance is being provided to those affected.

Due to their advanced technical parameters, Shahed drones play a key role in the military context. The Shahed-136, also known as Geran-2, used by Russia, can reach speeds of up to 115 mph and have a range of about 1,240 miles, thanks to the Limbach L550E engine. Cheap components increase their effectiveness and frequency of use.

The modern Shahed-238 introduces significant changes. Due to a jet engine and advanced guidance systems, it offers greater speed and a range of 1,550 miles. It differentiates itself through radar and infrared guidance systems, making it more effective. Additionally, its matte black finish may make detection by air defense systems more difficult, increasing potential threats.