Russia’s Use of Cheap Shahed Drones in Devastating Attack on Kyiv, Ukraine

Jakarta –

Russia has launched an attack drone the so-called greatest throughout the conflict with Ukraine, targeting the capital Kyiv. It is known that the drone used was Shahed made in Iran.

Russia carried out airstrikes in Ukraine almost daily in May. They mainly relied on Iranian Shahed-136/131 drones in Kyiv in the devastating strike on 31 May. A total of 31 drones targeted Kyiv that night.

Falling debris caused damage and fires in various areas of the capital Kyiv. Three people died including a child, and 11 others were injured as a result of the Russian attack on Ukrainian civilians.

Following the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Ukrainian air defense personnel as heroes. “You look up to destroy enemy missiles, planes, helicopters and drones. Every time you shoot down enemy drones and missiles, lives are saved,” he was quoted as saying detikINET from CNN, Friday (2/6/2023).

Russia is reportedly receiving enough supplies from Iran to launch Shahed attack drones almost daily over Ukraine. As well as intimidating Kyiv residents, Moscow might use these drone strikes to force Kyiv to use valuable ammunition to shoot them down as well as find out where Ukrainian air defenses are.

Shahed drones cost roughly 20 times less than missiles and are considered cheap enough for Russia. This drone is manufactured in Iran. Ukraine has warned Iran that there will be consequences if it supplies air weapons to Moscow.

The Shahed drone, which was renamed by the Russians to Geran-2, is equipped with explosives. This drone can be programmed with the target’s GPS coordinates. They are known as suicide drones because they swoop down on a target and explode on impact like a missile.

Because it is cheap and abundant, Russia is increasingly using it Shahed. The deployment of these drones allows Russia to save on aircraft and pilots and save on limited stocks of expensive long-range precision missiles.

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(fyk/fay)