**Russia’s New Drone Tactic: Rolling Out Mass Terror Across All of Ukraine**
In a shocking escalation of its air campaign, Russia has launched a massive drone and missile attack on western regions of Ukraine, targeting cities that were once considered relatively safe. The attacks have been described as the “heaviest bombardment” to date, with residents left terrified by the sound of Shahed drones, known for their loud buzzing engines.
On July 9, Russian forces launched 728 Shahed-type drones and decoys across Ukraine, with nearly 50 drones and five missiles spotted in the airspace above Volyn Oblast. The attacks damaged an industrial site and a garage in Lutsk, the regional capital, according to Mayor Ihor Polishchuk.
This new tactic by Russia is a clear indication of a shift in strategy, say experts. Israel-based military analyst David Sharp told the Kyiv Independent that Russia’s use of drones has always been driven by cost and ease of production. “Russia has bet on drones as a weapon to strike targets in Ukraine,” he said. “The calculation is that they can inflict military damage while also dealing psychological blows.”
The surge in drone attacks comes at a critical time for Ukraine, which has been struggling to keep up with the sheer number of targets. According to Airwars, a London-based conflict monitoring organization, Russia launched nearly 2,000 Shaheds into Ukraine between September 13, 2022, and August 30, 2023. In June alone, Moscow launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones.
Sharp noted that while Ukraine’s air defenses are highly effective against cruise missiles, drones present a different kind of threat. “Cruise missiles are expensive, and their numbers are limited — both financially and, apparently, due to production capacity,” he said. “So when Russia gained the ability to produce a large number of drones, it seized the opportunity.”
The attacks on western Ukraine have also raised concerns about the psychological impact on civilians. Residents in Chernivtsi, another western city, described hearing the sound of Shahed drones as “terrifying.” “We were all scared,” one resident told the Kyiv Independent.
As Russia continues to escalate its drone production, experts warn that Ukraine is unlikely to scale back its efforts to counter the threat. President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia intends to drastically increase its drone attacks, potentially launching up to 1,000 drones per day.
The solution to this problem lies in developing advanced weaponry to enhance Ukraine’s mobile fire teams and intercepting Russian air assaults. According to Serhiy Bratchuk, a Ukrainian military analyst, this includes better weapons, such as heavy machine guns and man-portable air defense systems.
However, the ultimate solution must come from striking at the source of the drone threat itself. “The ideal option is to eliminate the source of all this trouble,” Bratchuk said, expressing hope that Ukraine’s partners would provide the necessary weapons.
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