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euronews
Russia steps up use of jet-powered drones against Ukraine
In a significant shift in tactics, Russia has ramped up the use of jet-powered drones in its ongoing offensive against Ukraine. These drones, capable of reaching speeds up to 500 km/h, evade Ukrainian interceptors, which can only reach up to 300 km/h. This development, alongside the limited supply of air defense missiles in Ukraine, places additional pressure on its military resources and operational strategies. Ukrainian officials acknowledge that these advancements in Russian drone technology further complicate their air defense capabilities.
MonitorConfidence: HighImmediate horizonGeopolitical risk: High
Published 2 Jul 2026, 17:05 UTC2 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Russia increasingly deploying jet-powered drones in mass attacks
- Drones can reach speeds of 500 km/h, outpacing Ukrainian interceptors
- Ukraine forced to use limited supply of air defense missiles
- Moscow plans to increase share of jet-powered drones in attacks
- Geran-5 drones have advanced technology features and high payload capacity
Interesting facts
- The Geran-5 has a range of almost 1000 km, allowing it to strike deep into Ukraine.
- Ukraine's air defense interception rate remains above 90%, despite the new threats.
- Russian jet-powered drones are designed to evade traditional interceptor capabilities.