Russia preparing attacks on Ukraine using up to 500 drones simultaneously – DIU

According to Ukrinform, Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense (HUR), shared this information in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

"Regarding UAV production in Russia: it is taking place in Izhevsk, Yelabuga, and the Kalashnikov Concern. They have significantly increased their production output, which allows them to use 150 to 200 drones per attack. Their plans include increasing the number of launch sites from which UAVs will be launched against our territory. If they achieve their production targets in the first half of the year, they will be able to launch around 500 drones simultaneously," Skibitskyi stated.

Skibitskyi noted that Russia has significantly increased the variety of drones it produces. While in 2023 and early 2024, Russia mainly used one type of Shahed drones, today their drone arsenal includes: Geran-1, Geran-2, Harpia, Gerbera, Parodiya and others.

"The types of drones they now use include combat attack drones, reconnaissance drones, decoy drones (which lack warheads), and imitation targets. This overloads our air defense system, making it difficult to distinguish between drones carrying explosives and those that do not," Skibitskyi explained.

Skibitskyi emphasized that Russia's targets remain unchanged: command and control systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, aviation and airfields, critical infrastructure (including the energy grid and gas transportation system). defense industry enterprises.

"Recently, our gas transportation system and gas fields have suffered frequent attacks. The enemy understands that this is crucial for supplying gas to our population, and they are trying to destroy this capability," he said.

Skibitskyi explained that Russian attacks have become more complex and synchronized as missiles and drones are launched in waves, making air defense more difficult. Previously, up to 70 missiles would follow a single route, entering Ukraine via Luhansk region and heading straight for Kyiv. Now, missiles enter from different directions, maneuvering around air defense zones to reach their targets.

"The Ukrainian defenders must constantly relocate air defense forces to counter these tactics. After an attack, Russia immediately conducts reconnaissance and delivers follow-up strikes within a short time."

"If earlier they could deploy 20-30 unmanned aerial vehicles in a single strike, now it's 150. This approach by the enemy requires a completely different level of attention from the air defense system and places an entirely new strain on it. Previously, they launched drones late in the evening, and they would reach their targets by morning. Now, they can launch drones starting in the morning. The latest trend is launching drones in the evening, with them reaching targets on our territory starting 23:00 until morning. This means the attacks are now continuous, significantly increasing the level of existing threats," Skibitskyi stated.

As Ukrinform previously reported, starting 19:00 on March 2, the Russian forces launched 83 attack drones (including Shahed UAVs and decoy drones) from multiple locations including Oryol, Kursk, Millerov0, Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully shot down 46 drones, while 31 drones were lost from tracking.