Russia has significantly altered the way it strikes Ukrainian territory, shifting to a more sophisticated and dangerous strategy. According to military analyst Julian Röpcke from the German publication Bild, some of the “Shahed” drones used in recent weeks are now equipped with cameras and transmitters capable of sending real-time coordinates of Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense systems directly to Moscow.
This new approach allows Russian forces to obtain precise data about the locations of Ukrainian defenses and subsequently launch ballistic missile attacks, aiming to completely neutralize the defense of entire regions.
A Ukrainian officer quoted by Bild explains that Russia has also abandoned massive drone attack tactics. Instead of large waves of dozens of devices, the Russians now send small groups of drones, launched at intervals of about 30 minutes. The goal is to force Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense systems to constantly react, consuming ammunition and available resources. “With this tactic, they exhaust our defense systems and destroy entire villages near the border,” the military source stated.
Tactical changes are not limited to drones
The Financial Times recently reported that Moscow has upgraded the “Iskander-M” and “Kinjal” missiles, which are now capable of performing unexpected maneuvers before impact to avoid interception by Western Patriot systems. According to the publication, in September, Ukrainian defense managed to intercept only 6% of the total missiles launched.
Ukrainian military analysts confirm that Russia is increasingly focusing its attacks on energy infrastructure, simultaneously using kamikaze drones and missiles to increase the density and efficiency of the strikes. Anatolii Hrapchinski, deputy director of a company specializing in electronic warfare systems, explained to RBC-Ukraine that the Russian army is launching coordinated attacks from multiple directions, primarily targeting energy facilities in the Sumi and Chernihiv regions.
If previously the main targets were large power generation plants and transport stations, now the attacks are focused on distribution networks – those that deliver electricity directly to the population.
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