UK intelligence: Russia uses kamikaze drones for massive attacks on Ukraine

Russia uses kamikaze drones for massive attacks on Ukraine to weaken its air defence system.

Moreover, Russia has refrained from launching its premier air launched cruise missiles for possible attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure in winter, Caliber.Az reports, citing the UK Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine.

On November 18-19, 2023 Russia launched around 50 Iranian-designed Shahed one-way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicles, primarily towards Kyiv. These were launched in waves on two axes – from the Kursk to the east, and from Krasnodar to the south-east.

One of Russia’s objectives was likely to degrade Ukraine’s air defences, to shape the battlespace ahead of any concerted winter campaign of strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Russia has now refrained from launching its premier air launched cruise missiles from its heavy bomber fleet for nearly two months, likely allowing it to build up a substantial stock of these weapons. Russia is highly likely to use these missiles if it repeats last year’s effort to destroy Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure.