In Russia, there are two factories producing UAVs "Geran-2" (Shahed 136), which manufacture hundreds of drones each week. This was reported by a source from the Ukrainian government, according to The Guardian.
It was noted that the facilities are located in Tatarstan, approximately 1300 km from the border with Ukraine.
The publication shared that the Russians launch drones over Ukraine almost immediately after their production. Although they are easier to shoot down than high-speed missiles, they restrict air defense and can cause significant damage.
In October, the occupiers launched a total of 2023 Shahed 136 drones over Ukraine, marking a record high since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, journalists emphasized. Meanwhile, attacks on major Ukrainian cities occur almost every night.
According to Ukrainian military sources, the Russians are also attempting to incorporate artificial intelligence into the Shahed 136 to create a "swarm of drones." The idea is for the drones to communicate with each other and coordinate attacks to suppress Ukraine's air defense. However, it remains unclear how effective this technology might be.
Furthermore, journalists discovered that the occupiers are constantly modifying their drones to enhance their effectiveness. They recalled that in early November, the Russians equipped some drones with thermobaric warheads that create fire clouds upon detonation. This is particularly dangerous if the UAV explodes inside a building.
The publication noted that Shahed 136 drones are relatively inexpensive, making it impractical to shoot them down with Patriot missile systems, which cost around 4 million dollars. Journalists reported that Ukrainian forces more often use machine guns or FPV drones.
Drone Attacks on Ukraine
Earlier, UNIAN reported that on the morning of November 22, Russian occupiers attacked Sumy with a strike drone of the "Shahed" type armed with shrapnel. According to the head of the Sumy regional military administration, Volodymyr Artyukh, this weapon is used to kill people, rather than destroy objects.
Additionally, on November 18, a Russian strike drone crashed into a house in Hlukhiv. As a result of the occupiers' attack, a woman and her two sons were killed.