The Russian military has started launching decoy drones without warheads over Ukraine to distract Ukrainian air defense systems during aerial attacks.
As reported by CNN, former spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Yuri Ignat stated that these drones are equipped with a sphere printed on a 3D printer and wrapped in foil, mimicking the warhead of the Iranian Shahed-136 drone.
According to Ignat, this tactic allows the Russians to confuse Ukraine's air defense systems without incurring significant costs. These decoy drones account for nearly half of all drones launched at Ukrainian targets.
These actions indicate a shift in Russia's tactics, as Ukraine faces increasing pressure in the eastern part of the country. During the first week of November alone, air raid alerts in Kyiv lasted over 30 hours, while in October, the capital was on alert for more than 80 hours.
Earlier, the commander of the "Achilles" strike drone battalion mentioned that much will depend on the supply of weapons and ammunition for both sides.
"Currently, there is not enough ammunition and weaponry, but the enemy still has the capability to strike. The outcome will depend on the additional forces that the Russians deploy in the Kupiansk direction and how they compensate for losses in artillery, armored vehicles, and personnel," explained Fedorenko.