Russia and Ukraine are intensifying the use of long-range drones and reaching record levels in September

Russia and Ukraine are intensifying the use of long-range drones and reaching record levels in September

According to an analysis by Agenstvo, the Russian and Ukrainian armies deployed a record number of drones in a month since the large-scale invasion began in 2022. According to military reports, September was the first month of the war in which long-range attacks on the rear areas of both countries continued without interruption.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 886 drones were destroyed over Russian territory during the month, compared to 751 the previous month.

Meanwhile, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian troops launched 1,331 Shahed Kamikaze drones against Ukraine in September, significantly more than in any previous month of the war. In August, Ukrainian military personnel reported attacks with 790 drones, compared to 426 in July.

As “Agenstvo” noted, September was the first calendar month since the start of the war in which there were daily drone attacks from both sides.

Russian troops began to use new modifications of the Shahed-136 (known in Russia as Geran-2), which are more difficult to destroy. These drones are equipped with 4G cellular modems that allow them to maintain communications over the Ukrainian cellular network, and they feature a black, likely radar-absorbing coating that makes them less visible overnight.

Additionally, these drones have flown to higher altitudes to force Ukrainian air defenses to use expensive missiles and aircraft to neutralize them.

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