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Russia's Drone Swarm Deception
Analysis of Russia's new drone warfare tactic involving swarms of decoys and highly destructive thermobaric drones targeting Ukraine.
Spanish
United States
TechnologyMilitaryRussia Ukraine WarConflictMilitary TechnologyIntelligenceWarfare
Associated Press (Ap)Kyiv PostInstitute For Science And International SecurityRussian Ministry Of Defense
Vladímir PutinDonald TrumpArthur Van CollerSerhii BeskrestnovDavid Albright
- Where are the drones used in this operation being manufactured?
- The Alabuga factory in Tatarstan, Russia, is mass-producing these drones, including a particularly destructive thermobaric variant of the Shahed drone.
- What are the strategic advantages for Russia in using drone decoys?
- The use of decoys significantly reduces the cost for Russia, while simultaneously providing intelligence on Ukrainian air defenses, as the decoys are equipped with live cameras.
- What are the effects of thermobaric warheads on humans and structures?
- Thermobaric warheads create a high-pressure, high-heat vortex that penetrates structures and sucks out oxygen, causing devastating damage; they also include ball bearings for maximum impact.
- What is the main tactic employed by Russia in its Operation False Target?
- Russia's Operation False Target involves deploying swarms of drones, a majority of which are decoys, to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses and deplete their resources.
- What is the overall effectiveness of this drone tactic, and when was it first implemented?
- Despite many drones being shot down, a small percentage still reach their targets, causing significant damage and casualties; this tactic has been used since summer 2023, with a noticeable increase in October 2023.