Latest news with #Shahed-136
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Russia Drones Equipped With Chinese Technology Raise Eyebrows
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A drone model intended for Russia's war effort includes components from a Chinese firm, which had previously said it would not provide equipment in the war in Ukraine, it has been reported. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) agency said it had revealed a new drone that Moscow would use, which is similar to the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone, although much smaller. It said that almost half of the components come from a single Chinese firm, CUAV Technology, which had announced in October 2022 restrictions on its products to Ukraine and Russia, curbing their military use. Newsweek has contacted CUAV Technology for comment. This image from September 19, 2024, shows Vladimir Putinand his officials at an exhibition of Orlan-10 UAV drones at the Special Technology Center in Saint Petersburg. This image from September 19, 2024, shows Vladimir Putinand his officials at an exhibition of Orlan-10 UAV drones at the Special Technology Center in Saint Petersburg. Why It Matters Russia is stepping up its drone production as it continues to bombard Ukrainian infrastructure and use the devices on the battlefield. A propaganda video showcased a drone factory near Kazan in the Tatarstan region, described as the world's biggest, amid a warning by Germany's defense ministry that Russia could launch 2,000 of the devices in a single night by November. China has always denied supplying drones or weapons components to Russia, but reports that its firms are contributing to this effort will raise questions about the effectiveness of secondary sanctions. What To Know The DIU unveiled on a war and sanctions portal, which details foreign weapons components, the inner workings of a new Russian drone that it says Moscow uses as a reconnaissance and decoy device to detect the positions of Ukrainian air defense. It said that the device model named UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) CBTS.611000 has a delta-wing fuselage similar to but smaller than the Shahed-136 (Geran-2), Iranian-designed drone, which has wreaked destruction in Ukraine. China supports russian terrorism – thus, China directly supports the fight against Europe. The new russian drone consists almost entirely of Chinese components, — GUR. The intelligence agency has published data on the drone, which the russians use as a decoy, reconnaissance… — Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) July 22, 2025 The DIU said that every component is of Chinese origin, almost half of which come from a single firm, CUAV Technology. These components include a flight controller with autopilot, navigation modules and antennas and an airspeed sensor. The drone can carry a warhead of up to 15 kilograms (35 pounds), the DIU added. DIU said in October 2022 that CUAV Technology had announced restrictions on supplying its products to Ukraine and Russia. German Major General Christian Freuding said in a podcast that China has now completely stopped exporting drone parts to Ukraine and is instead supplying Russia. Meanwhile, back in June, Oleh Alexandrov, spokesman for Ukraine's foreign intelligence service, told Politico that Chinese manufacturers would continue to supply Russia for their drone production. This would include supplying hardware, electronics, navigation, optics, and telemetry systems, motors, microcircuits, processor modules, antenna field systems, control boards, and navigation systems, he said. What People Are Saying Pro-Ukrainian X user Jürgen Nauditt posted that the DIU report shows "China supports Russian terrorism – thus, China directly supports the fight against Europe." Pro-Ukrainian BSky B user Jalenska posted: "I hope we'll condemn China with strong words and summon ambassadors." Military News UA on X: "Ukrainian intelligence has revealed that a new Russian drone, used for decoy, reconnaissance and light strikes, relies almost entirely on Chinese components." Oleh Alexandrov, spokesman for Ukraine's foreign intelligence service, told Politico in June: "Officially, China sticks to all the rules. Yet only officially." What Happens Next Reports of Chinese involvement in Russia's drones will add to scrutiny of other countries playing a role in helping Moscow's war effort. Kyrylo Budanov, head of DIU, said that Russia's ally North Korea currently supplies up to 40 percent of Moscow's ammunition.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Russia appears to be launching its exploding Shahed-style drones from American-designed pickup trucks
Newly aired state media footage showed Russia operating what look to be American-designed Ram pickup trucks with Shahed-style drones ready for launch in the back. Zvezda, the Russian defense ministry's TV channel, released a video on Sunday spotlighting the large Yelabuga drone factory in the Tatarstan region, which is where the domestically produced version of the Shahed-136 is built. While the footage primarily focuses on intricate manufacturing processes inside the sprawling factory, it also offers insight into how the deadly and highly destructive drones, known by the Russian designation Geran-2, can be launched. The video shows at least one clearly identified American-designed Ram truck, with a drone mounted on the bed, charging down a runway-style strip of road surrounded by large mounds of dirt that could be designed to protect the site from attacks. Additional frames in the footage show several drones taking off from unidentified black trucks with steep climbs, resembling airplanes. At another point, the video shows five stationary black pickup trucks, all with drones mounted on the back. It also reveals the storage shelters in which the drones are kept before their potential use in the strikes against Ukraine. Like other truck-mounted launchers, the vehicles provide a flexible and mobile launch option. 🔴 This is how the Russian forces launch Shahed drones to attack Ukraine, using American Dodge pickup trucks, as seen in videos released by Russian state media. — UNITED24 Media (@United24media) July 20, 2025 The exact make and model of all the pickup trucks featured in Zvezda's footage are unclear. Stellantis, a multinational automotive group that owns Ram, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. The Iranian-made Shahed-136 is a one-way attack drone, or loitering munition, that can linger in the air for a period of time before diving down at its target and exploding on impact. Russia started using the Iranian-imported Shaheds to attack Ukraine in 2022, but it has since started producing them at home. The Yelabuga factory — which is more than 1,000 miles from Ukraine's border — opened in 2023, allowing Moscow to rapidly scale up drone production without relying on Tehran. Ukraine has targeted the Yelabuga factory with long-range drones on multiple occasions. Russia uses the Shahed-style drones in nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The bombardments have grown in size in recent months, with some consisting of hundreds of attack and decoy drones — the latter are designed to exhaust Kyiv's increasingly strained air defenses. Some recent Western assessments suggest that Moscow may eventually be able to launch thousands of drones in a single night, a bombardment that could greatly overwhelm Ukraine's already heavily exhausted air defenses. Ukrainians have said Russia has introduced new tactics with its Shaheds, making their attacks more complicated, and have modified the drones to make them deadlier, including by swapping out the standard explosive payloads for thermobaric warheads.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Russia Claims Hitting US-Supplied Patriot Systems In Ukraine; Moscow Hits Kyiv With Drones, Missiles
Russia claims to have destroyed three U.S.-made Patriot launchers and a key radar system in Ukraine during a major missile and drone assault. Moscow launched 426 drones and 24 missiles overnight, asserting air superiority. Ukraine says it intercepted or jammed hundreds of incoming threats. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted airports in Moscow. Russia also showcased a massive Shahed-136 drone factory built with Iran's help, fueling fears of swarm drone attacks. Watch Read More
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Warped Russian state TV parades ‘drone death factory' packed with kamikaze killing machines after Ukraine blitzes Moscow
WARPED Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's "drone death factory" packed with kamikaze killing machines. The propaganda report came conveniently as 12 Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's 'drone death factory' Credit: East2West 12 Explosion of a Geran-2 drone next to a Yak-52 aircraft that was acting as an interceptor Credit: East2West 12 The brag came conveniently as Ukraine successfully blitzed Moscow for a fourth night in a row Credit: East2West 12 The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane Credit: East2West The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane. This has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine. The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat to imminently send hundreds or even thousands of drones daily into Ukraine. But the warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told him it was read more news Zvezda TV boasted that the plant is apparently the largest of its kind in the world - storing drones known in Russia as Geran-2s. Timur Shagivaleyev, director-general of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which Ukraine had repeatedly sought to attack, said: 'At one time there was a plan to produce several thousand Gerans. 'Now we are producing nine times more than the plan. 'We must do everything necessary to ensure that our country, our way of life, wins.' Most read in The US Sun The drone is 'effective and highly accurate," according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. It went on to gloat how the drone is also "simple, cheap and therefore mass-produced". Ukraine unleashes hell on Moscow with massive drone blitz as explosions rock capital for fourth night & airspace closed The channel emphasised the apparent "scale of this production," evident through the "huge, bright workshops in which you can get lost" with "hundreds of machines, thousands of workers and wherever you look". Among its workers are teenagers propagandised to support Putin's war who are "educated" - or indoctrinated - at a special drone university. The Russian propaganda channel said: "There are young people, boys and girls, both working here and studying here in the college created by the same people who organised the production of Gerans. "They invite schoolchildren here immediately after the ninth grade, and after college they invite them to the plant. 'Vladimir Putin has noted the experience of Alabuga and even called for its replication.' The plant has its own foundry where the aluminium engine blocks are cast. 'There is a forge, where steel parts are made, there are assembly shops, where Geran engines are assembled,' said the report. They make the two-stroke engines, and other parts for the drones including microelectronics and wiring. 12 The moment of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on Saturday Credit: East2West 12 The drone has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine Credit: East2West 12 The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat Credit: East2West 12 The warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults Credit: East2West 12 The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Ukraine unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports Credit: East2West The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin . Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes , While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. Trump's 50-day peace deadline for Vlad THE Kremlin mocked Donald Trump's 50-day peace deadline and may now demand even more Ukrainian territory instead of trying to sign peace. Vladimir Putin will instead keep terrorising Ukrainian civilians during the seven-week period, sources said. The furious US President said he is 'very unhappy' with Russia as he warned of 100 per cent secondary tariffs on Moscow should they continue to blitz Ukraine. Trump said he wants the war to end, but doubled down on his frustration with Putin, saying he's "disappointed" in the Russian leader. But a snarling Putin has always declined and instead ramped up his ground and aerial offensives across Ukraine. He also vowed to send US weapons - compromising of "everything" in their arsenal - to Nato so they can distribute them to Kyiv. 12 The aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on July 19 Credit: east2west 12 The drone is 'effective and highly accurate,' according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. Credit: East2West 12 Inside Putin's drone death plant Credit: East2West
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Warped Russian state TV parades ‘drone death factory' packed with kamikaze killing machines after Ukraine blitzes Moscow
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WARPED Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's "drone death factory" packed with kamikaze killing machines. The propaganda report came conveniently as Ukraine successfully blitzed Moscow for a fourth night in a row. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's 'drone death factory' Credit: East2West 12 Explosion of a Geran-2 drone next to a Yak-52 aircraft that was acting as an interceptor Credit: East2West 12 The brag came conveniently as Ukraine successfully blitzed Moscow for a fourth night in a row Credit: East2West 12 The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane Credit: East2West The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane. This has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine. The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat to imminently send hundreds or even thousands of drones daily into Ukraine. But the warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told him it was time to make Russians feel 'the pain' of war. Zvezda TV boasted that the plant is apparently the largest of its kind in the world - storing drones known in Russia as Geran-2s. Timur Shagivaleyev, director-general of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which Ukraine had repeatedly sought to attack, said: 'At one time there was a plan to produce several thousand Gerans. 'Now we are producing nine times more than the plan. 'We must do everything necessary to ensure that our country, our way of life, wins.' The drone is 'effective and highly accurate," according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. It went on to gloat how the drone is also "simple, cheap and therefore mass-produced". Ukraine unleashes hell on Moscow with massive drone blitz as explosions rock capital for fourth night & airspace closed The channel emphasised the apparent "scale of this production," evident through the "huge, bright workshops in which you can get lost" with "hundreds of machines, thousands of workers and wherever you look". Among its workers are teenagers propagandised to support Putin's war who are "educated" - or indoctrinated - at a special drone university. The Russian propaganda channel said: "There are young people, boys and girls, both working here and studying here in the college created by the same people who organised the production of Gerans. "They invite schoolchildren here immediately after the ninth grade, and after college they invite them to the plant. 'Vladimir Putin has noted the experience of Alabuga and even called for its replication.' The plant has its own foundry where the aluminium engine blocks are cast. 'There is a forge, where steel parts are made, there are assembly shops, where Geran engines are assembled,' said the report. They make the two-stroke engines, and other parts for the drones including microelectronics and wiring. 12 The moment of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on Saturday Credit: East2West 12 The drone has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine Credit: East2West 12 The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat Credit: East2West 12 The warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults Credit: East2West 12 The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Ukraine unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports Credit: East2West The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Ukraine unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports with a fourth successive drone blitz rocking the city. Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin. Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes, The Kyiv Post reported. While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. Trump's 50-day peace deadline for Vlad THE Kremlin mocked Donald Trump's 50-day peace deadline and may now demand even more Ukrainian territory instead of trying to sign peace. Vladimir Putin will instead keep terrorising Ukrainian civilians during the seven-week period, sources said. The furious US President said he is 'very unhappy' with Russia as he warned of 100 per cent secondary tariffs on Moscow should they continue to blitz Ukraine. Trump said he wants the war to end, but doubled down on his frustration with Putin, saying he's "disappointed" in the Russian leader. But a snarling Putin has always declined and instead ramped up his ground and aerial offensives across Ukraine. He also vowed to send US weapons - compromising of "everything" in their arsenal - to Nato so they can distribute them to Kyiv. Read more here. 12 The aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on July 19 Credit: east2west 12 The drone is 'effective and highly accurate,' according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. Credit: East2West
