**Russia’s Drone Capabilities: A Reality Check**
Russia has the capability to launch up to 500 Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones at Ukraine in a single attack, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. However, this impressive number is not something Moscow can achieve on a daily basis.
In recent weeks, Russia has stepped up its drone assaults on Ukrainian cities, launching hundreds of drones in a single day. The largest aerial attack since the start of the full-scale invasion occurred overnight on June 29, when Moscow launched 477 drones and 60 missiles across Ukraine.
But Budanov is clear: “Launching 450–500 Shaheds every day — it’s just not realistic.” Despite this, Russia does have the ability to launch up to 500 drones in a single strike, making periodic attacks a more feasible option for Moscow.
**The Challenge of Countering Drones**
Ukrainian air defenses have adapted over time but face growing challenges as Moscow improves drone resilience and electronic warfare capabilities. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia has launched 28,743 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.
To counter this threat, Ukraine has been using domestically developed Magura naval drones to target Russian military assets in the Black Sea. These small unmanned surface vessels have proven effective, including in a May 2 operation when they were used to shoot down two Russian Su-30 fighter jets near Novorossiysk.
**Russia’s Naval Drone Efforts Fail**
Budanov also revealed that Russia has made unsuccessful attempts to develop its own naval drones. The last known effort came in early June, when experimental models detonated before reaching Ukrainian territorial waters.
Despite these setbacks, Russia continues to rely on Shahed-type drones, which are proving difficult for Ukraine’s air defenses to counter. As Budanov noted, “Russian engineers are now producing 16-channel CRPA antennas, which are harder to counter electronically.”
**Ukraine’s Counter-Drone Efforts**
To combat the drone threat, Ukraine is using a combination of air defenses and electronic warfare capabilities. The SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) has targeted Russian military assets with long-range drones, resulting in at least two confirmed strikes and a fire at a refinery plant in Russia’s Udmurt Republic.
As part of a new joint production program, new factories and weapons manufacturing facilities will be built in Ukraine and abroad to support the country’s counter-drone efforts. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced this initiative on July 1.
**North Korea’s Military Cooperation with Russia**
In an interview with Hromadske Radio, Budanov also highlighted North Korea’s increasing military cooperation with Russia. He stated that Pyongyang is “currently significantly increasing its military power” through direct cooperation with Moscow.
This development adds a new layer of complexity to the conflict in Ukraine and highlights the need for international cooperation to counter these emerging threats.
**Kyiv Independent**
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