Russia Expands Drone Strike Range: Why Ukraine's Air Defense Needs New Systems.

According to ТСН: Russian forces continue to expand the operational range of their drones, aiming to conduct deeper attacks on Ukrainian territory.

American analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) emphasize the urgent need for Ukraine to acquire modern air defense systems.

Attacks on Ukrainian Facilities

ISW provides data obtained from geolocated videos published by the Russian drone technology center 'Rubikon'. The videos show Russian troops striking a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter located at a forward base northeast of Bilykiv in the Poltava region, approximately 150 km from the border with Russia.

The footage also captures a strike on an An-26 transport plane at Mykolaiv International Airport, located 60 km from the occupied Kinburn Spit. According to OSINT data based on satellite images, this aircraft has been at the airport since 2022, indicating its write-off.

Enemy Tactics

ISW cites the words of Ukrainian electronic warfare expert Serhiy 'Flash' Beskrestnov. He noted that Russian forces used 'Molniya' drones, which were controlled via Starlink rather than mobile networks. The expert also reported that the enemy might deploy reconnaissance and sabotage groups to launch drones from close range or use 'drone bases' to extend their flight range.

'Recent long-range drone strikes exploit the shortage of air defense systems in Ukraine, underscoring the urgent need for Ukraine to have point air defense systems to shoot down drones, as electronic warfare systems (EWS) are likely insufficient to protect Ukraine's critical infrastructure from such a geographically pervasive threat,' ISW summarizes.

It is also emphasized that the occupiers have begun attacks on Ukraine's railway system. Sergeant of the Drone Systems Battalion 'Inquisition' from the 59th OMBr, Oleksandr Karpyuk, believes that the idea of equipping each train with electronic warfare systems is technically complex and ineffective. According to him, EWS is not a 'magic button', but a complicated system that requires a comprehensive approach to neutralize modern drones.

This escalation of attacks by Russian forces indicates complex and dangerous trends in the war. The need for effective air defense systems is becoming increasingly urgent for Ukraine, as these attacks threaten not only military targets but also civilian facilities. Any strategy that enhances defense capabilities should be prioritized under current conditions.