Russia changes suicide UAV attack tactics, making it difficult for Ukraine's air defense

Nga đổi chiến thuật tập kích UAV tự sát, làm khó phòng không Ukraine - 1 — A Russian UAV flies over Ukrainian airspace (Photo: Reuters).

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat announced that on the night of December 30 and early morning of December 31, Kiev's air defenses shot down 21 out of 49 Shahed suicide UAVs launched by Russia.

"Russia has launched strikes with Shahed in three directions from Cape Chauda (Crimea), Primorsko-Akhtarsky district and Kursk province of Russia," he said.

In total, Ukraine reports that Russia launched 49 Shahed UAVs at Kiev targets. Ukraine shot down 21, which is significantly lower than other interceptions.

In previous attacks, Ukraine has often claimed to have intercepted most of the Shahed launched by Russia, but this time the rate was less than 43%.

According to Mr. Ihnat, Russia carried out most of the Shahed attacks in areas along the frontline in Kharkov, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhia. These UAVs did not penetrate deep into Ukrainian territory like previous raids.

“Russia has changed its tactics and it is actually quite difficult to destroy the Shahed at such close range,” he explained.

“That is why the 21 Shaheds being shot down is also a good result because the drones came from three directions and they were shot down when they reached the central region,” Mr. Ihnat said.

Since September 2022, Russia has launched about 3,800 suicide drones into Ukraine and Kiev has shot down about 3,000, he said.

In addition, Mr. Ihnat said Russia fired six S-300 missiles at Kharkiv last night. Russia previously claimed to have attacked a hotel in Kharkiv and eliminated officials from the "Defense Intelligence Service of Ukraine (DIU) and the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), who were involved in planning and carrying out the attack on the Russian city of Belgorod on December 30."

Ukrainian intelligence has denied this information, claiming that they did not deploy any military or intelligence officers at the hotel.

Also today, Ukraine activated a nationwide alert after Russia dispatched MiG-31K fighters to take off.

Because the MiG-31K is capable of carrying the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, Ukraine is often on alert as soon as this fighter takes off.

Russia’s frequent use of MiG-31Ks has led to a massive shutdown of Ukraine’s operations as people seek shelter whenever an air raid siren sounds, a development that could have a serious impact on the Ukrainian economy .

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