Latest news with #ShahedDrones
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Critical infrastructure hit by Russians in Zaporizhzhia – video, photos
On the night of 31 May, the Russians hit critical infrastructure and a residential area in Zaporizhzhia, injuring one woman. Source: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Details: Fedorov reported: "Explosions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast!" He urged locals to stay in safe places. Updated: At 4:11, Fedorov again reported explosions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. At about 5:00, Fedorov said that the Russians had attacked a critical infrastructure facility in Zaporizhzhia. As a result of the strike, an administrative building was partially destroyed and there was a fire in the vicinity. Even later, Fedorov said that the Russians attacked Zaporizhzhia with at least seven Shahed attack drones. As a result of the attack, one woman was injured. In addition, critical infrastructure and houses were damaged. Consequences of the Russian attack Photo: Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration Consequences of the Russian attack Photo: Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration Consequences of the Russian attack Photo: Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration Quote from Fedorov: "The Russians hit a residential area. A house mangled. Critical infrastructure facilities were also affected. There were fires. As a result of the attack, a woman was injured. She is receiving medical attention. " Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Russia attacks Kharkiv trolleybus depot with drones: 18 vehicles damaged, injuries reported
The Russians have attacked the trolleybus depot in the Slobidskyi district in Kharkiv on the night of 29-30 May. Eighteen trolleybuses and 33 residential buildings have been damaged and two employees have been injured. Source: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov; Suspilne Kharkiv Details: Terekhov reported that the Russians had launched an attack with eight Shahed drones on one of the depots where city trolleybuses were being repaired and serviced. Quote: Most of the transport was dispersed across the city in advance – this is what saved us from much greater losses. But the vehicles under repair were hit: one trolleybus was completely destroyed and another 18 suffered varying degrees of damage." Burnt trolleybus Photo: Suspilne Burnt trolleybus Photo: Suspilne Details: Two employees who were on duty during the attack were injured. "The target today is the civilian population, this is civilian infrastructure of the city of Kharkiv, no military personnel have ever been here, there has never been a military facility here," Terekhov emphasised. Damaged trolleybus Photo: Terekhov Damaged trolleybus in the depot Photo: Terekhov In addition, the blast wave and debris damaged 33 residential buildings located nearby. Mostly, windows were shattered. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Russia attacks Ukraine with 90 drones: 56 downed, hits recorded in 9 locations
Russian forces have been attacking Ukraine with 90 Shahed-type attack drones and various decoy drones since 23:20 on 28 May. Ukrainian air defences have struck down 56 drones; strikes were recorded in nine locations. Source: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram Quote: "As of 09:30, air defences downed 56 enemy Shahed-type drones in eastern and northern Ukraine. Ten were shot down by firearms, and 46 disappeared from radar or were suppressed by electronic warfare. Enemy airstrikes were recorded in nine frontline locations in Sumy, Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts." Details: The drones were launched from the Russian cities of Millerovo, Orel and Kursk, targeting frontline territories. The attack was repelled by Ukraine's anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare teams, unmanned systems and mobile fire groups of the defence forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Russia launches ballistic missiles and 88 drones overnight: Ukraine destroys 71 UAVs
Russian forces attacked Ukraine with five Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, a Kh-59/69 air-to-surface missile and 88 Shahed-type loitering munitions and various decoy drones on the night of 27-28 May. Source: Ukrainian Air Force Command on Telegram Details: As of 09:00, Ukrainian air defence had brought down 71 Russian UAVs, specifically Shahed drones and other types of UAVs, across the eastern, northern and southern parts of the country. Specifically, 34 were shot down with direct fire, while 37 were suppressed or disappeared from radar due to electronic warfare. Impacts from Russian aerial weapons were recorded in eight locations. The aerial attack has been repelled by anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units as well as mobile fire groups from the Ukrainian defence forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia's deadly drone arsenal has become more powerful
Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Russia has upgraded its Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones with 90kg warheads, boosting their destructive capability in the latest sign of deepening co-operation between Moscow and Tehran. Shahed drones – launched in swarms almost always at night – have become a hallmark of Vladimir Putin's campaign to cripple Ukrainian infrastructure, triggering blackouts and damaging key power facilities. The new combined warheads are being built as two different models, but both weighing 90kg. One is being built in Russia, the other in Iran. The Russian-designed model, known as KOFZBCh, combines cumulative, fragmentation, blast and incendiary effects, meaning it can destroy buildings, scatter deadly shrapnel, spark fires and generate a powerful shockwave. It is designed not just to destroy a specific target but to cause maximum chaos in its surroundings. The Iranian version lacks incendiary capability but still delivers a powerful blow, according to Ukraine's Defence Express. Pavlo Narozhny, a military expert and founder of Reactive Mail, which provides spare parts to the Ukrainian army, told The Telegraph that Russia needed to make its Shahed drones more powerful to counter protective measures put in place by Ukrainian energy companies. 'With this combined warhead, the main target is power infrastructure. But Ukraine's energy companies have been building concrete covers and installing nets made of steel…so Russia needs something to penetrate this infrastructure,' Mr Narozhny said. He added that while they may be more powerful than standard Shahed-131 and 136 drones, they will need more fuel given their increased weight, making their range 'much smaller'. It is not yet clear whether the upgraded Shaheds have been used in combat. But their development reflects the growing importance of drones in the conflict, as both sides race to innovate low-cost, high-impact technology, often for marginal gains on the battlefield. Earlier this month, Kyiv reported on what was the largest drone attack of the war so far at the time, as Russia launched 273 Shahed drones across Ukraine. The attack included a new jet-powered 'Geran-3' armed with a 300kg warhead – believed to be a Russian clone of the Iranian Shahed-238. Ukrainian air defences intercepted many of the drones, but not all. Several regions, including Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk, were targeted. At least one person was killed and three were injured. Last week, Ukraine responded by firing hundreds of drones across Russia, including dozens towards Moscow, forcing the closure of the Russian capital's four airports. Both sides have adapted rapidly to the attacks. Tom Withington, a weapons expert at the Royal United Services Institute, said drones guided by fibre-optic cables – now used by Moscow and Kyiv – are 'near impossible' to jam, highlighting the pace of innovation. Ukraine has been known to attach drones to remote-controlled aircraft to strike oil depots and military targets inside Russia. The attacks are estimated to have disrupted 17 per cent of Russia's refining capacity, severely affecting military fuel supplies. Ukraine has also learned how to reconfigure Western-supplied tanks to better hunt enemy drones. The Ukrainian army's 508th Separate Repair and Restoration Battalion is preparing to receive an old German Leopard 1A5 tank modified with a Belgian Cockerill 3105 turret. The upgrade allows the tank to fire at drones at a steep 41-degree angle – 20 degrees higher than standard – and hit targets up to 10km away. The German Leopard tank may have poor armour but its speed would allow it to better evade Russian drones more than other armoured vehicles, the Ukrainian army's 508th Separate Repair and Restoration Battalion (SRRB) said. 'After making the shot that may disclose the Ukrainian tank's position, a Leopard 1A5 can quickly roll back to cover,' the 508th SRRB said. 'It is true that the armor of the first Leopard is really weak, but it doesn't matter if the Russian drone operators don't even have time to see it.' But the modification comes with a hefty price tag. While Belgium has pledged $1 billion in aid – and Ukraine is waiting to receive 170 old Leopard tanks – retrofitting each with the Belgian turret could cost tens of millions of dollars. Mr Narozhny said such a weapon would be 'very effective' at targeting Russian drones but could cost the Ukrainians thousands of dollars to down each drone. Whether Kyiv can justify that cost remains to be seen, especially with competing needs, including batteries for US-supplied Patriot missile systems and funding to recruit more troops amid growing manpower shortages. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
