What happened
Russia launched a daytime attack on Ukraine, damaging civilian buildings and wounding over 100 people. The attack involved 124 drones, including a new model of jet-powered drones that are faster and harder to intercept. Ukraine's Air Force reported that 86 of the drones used were jet-powered, with a lower interception rate of 57% compared to older models.
The attack targeted various locations, including the National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv and a private medical clinic. Emergency crews evacuated wounded civilians from a business center in Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city. Despite the damage, analysts believe the attack could have been worse, suggesting that Russia is stockpiling weapons for intensified attacks in the late autumn and winter.
Russia has been producing two models of jet-powered drones, the Geran-4 and Geran-5, with estimates suggesting that 1,200 Geran-4 and 800 Geran-5 will be produced in September. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia has used 7,700 jet-powered drones in attacks so far this year. Analysts predict that future attacks could involve up to 1,500 units per raid.
Russia has also been saving its cruise and ballistic missiles, which are more expensive and difficult to manufacture. The country has increased its production of these missiles, surpassing its targets by 110% to 120%. Ukraine, however, continues to face challenges in countering these threats, with a shortage of American-made PAC-3 ballistic interceptors and untested defenses against jet-powered drones.
