Russia has intensified its aerial assaults on Ukraine, deploying new jet-powered drones daily throughout August, a tactic that Ukrainian air defenses are finding increasingly difficult to intercept. This marks the first recorded period of daily attacks using these upgraded Geran drones, according to analysis of Ukrainian Air Force data by BBC Verify.
The growing reliance on jet-propelled and other advanced drone models has prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to decry the "horror" unfolding over Ukrainian skies.
Military reports indicate a significant surge in jet-powered drone attacks. In June, Ukraine's military recorded 350 such attacks, which rose to 1,600 in July and then to 2,800 in August. During five separate nightly attacks in August, these faster drones outnumbered older, slower models.
Dr. Marina Miron, an expert on military technology at King's College London, explained that the speed of these new drones is the primary challenge. "The reason for turning to jet-powered drones is that they are much faster than the previous generation and it makes it much more difficult for Ukraine to intercept them," she stated. The upgraded munitions can reach speeds exceeding 300 mph, significantly faster than Ukraine's current interceptor capabilities.
Ukrainian military intelligence suggests that some of the turbojet engines powering these drones are sourced from China. The impact of these attacks was underscored on September 1, when Zelensky reported that a wave of drone strikes killed at least 12 people and injured 20 more, including six railway workers at a depot in Kyiv.
Earlier in the conflict, Ukraine had reported a higher success rate in countering Russian drones, with Zelensky stating that 94% of long-range drones were intercepted. However, the introduction of these faster, jet-powered models represents a new phase in the ongoing arms race between Kyiv and Moscow. Maj. Gen. Vadym Skibitskyi, Ukraine's deputy head of military intelligence, noted on August 10 that his forces require new interceptor missiles "capable of matching [jet-drones'] speed."