Latest news with #TerritorialDefenseForces
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Inside a worsening threat: Russia's one-way attack drones packed with thermobaric bombs
Russia has been packing thermobaric warheads in its Iranian-designed Shahed drones and homemade variants. Ukrainians on the front lines of efforts to protect civilians told BI the threat is getting worse. One soldier said the warheads are getting bigger, while a first responder said they're being used more frequently. Russia is packing its one-way attack drones with thermobaric warheads, and Ukrainians dealing with this deadly challenge say the threat is getting worse. An air defender says the warheads are getting bigger, while a first responder said they're showing up more frequently. Oleksiy, the deputy commander of a Territorial Defense Forces mobile air defense unit operating near Kyiv, told Business Insider that Russia has been equipping its Shahed-style drones with thermobaric warheads for quite some time now. What's changing, though, is the size of the warhead, among other things. He said that the explosive payload has grown from 40 kilograms (90 pounds) to 90 kilograms (nearly 200 pounds). "Accordingly, the destructive force is much greater," he said. Oleksiy shared that his unit, which operates truck-mounted machine guns, has not yet shot down the larger thermobaric drones, but he said they started to appear in Ukrainian military reports at the end of last year. A thermobaric munition, also known as a vacuum bomb, disperses an aerosol cloud of explosive material and then ignites it, causing a large fireball and a devastating blast wave while sucking out the surrounding oxygen. These destructive and controversial weapons cause high-temperature blasts that can run hotter than 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit and last longer than typical explosions. The intense pressure and heat can destroy fortified buildings and cause severe injuries and death, especially in enclosed spaces. A first responder in Ukraine's State Emergency Services, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, explained to BI that the "thermobaric warheads are much more deadly and destructive" than standard explosives. The first responder said they were not aware of larger warheads, but they shared that Russia has been using the drones with thermobaric payloads more frequently than before. They said these weapons can burn "everything" around them. Oleksiy said the thermobaric munitions can destroy everything from small homes to multi-story buildings. BI could not independently verify all of the details of the two Ukrainian accounts. Russia's defense ministry and its embassy in the US did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations. Russia's military has been accused of deploying thermobaric weapons since the early days of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv and the UK have specifically called out the use of the TOS-1A, an armored multiple rocket launcher that can fire munitions with thermobaric warheads. Britain's defense ministry previously said that the Russian military used this weapon in its wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya. Kateryna Stepanenko, the Russia deputy team lead at the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said that Moscow began to integrate thermobaric warheads into Shahed drones at scale last summer and fall, enabling these weapons to "inflict more damage on buildings." Stepanenko told BI that Russia used Shaheds with thermobaric warheads in an attack on civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv last week and that Russian sourcing suggests Moscow is also using these bombs against Ukrainian military targets along the front lines. While the use of thermobaric warheads is not new, Russia continues to adapt the ways it delivers these strikes, she said. "The integration of thermobaric warheads onto cheaply made drones may allow Russia to increase the number of strikes that previously would've required a larger and more detectable system, such as TOS-1," Stepanenko said, adding that "the Russians are also trying to make these strikes more precise." Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military said that it carried out a long-range attack on a Russian factory making thermobaric warheads for Shahed drones, possibly reflecting Kyiv's efforts to curb this threat. The assessment comes as Russia has stepped up its attacks with the notorious Shahed-136, an Iranian-designed drone that Moscow now mass-produces in its own factories. Shaheds, also known as loitering munitions because they can linger above a target before attacking it, travel at slower speeds than cruise or ballistic missiles. The drones, however, are much cheaper, allowing Russia to use them for large-scale bombardments. In recent weeks, Russia has staged massive attacks against Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones, including Shaheds and decoy systems intended to exhaust Kyiv's limited air defense stockpiles. Just on Tuesday, for instance, Ukraine's air force said Russia attacked with nearly 270 Shahed and decoy drones, adding that two-thirds of the munitions were shot down. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Inside a worsening threat: Russia's one-way-attack drones packed with thermobaric bombs
Russia is packing its deadly one-way attack drones with thermobaric warheads, and Ukrainians dealing with this deadly challenge say the threat is getting worse. An air defender says the warheads are getting bigger, while a first responder said they're showing up more frequently. Oleksiy, the deputy commander of a Territorial Defense Forces mobile air defense unit operating near Kyiv, told Business Insider that Russia has been equipping its Shahed-style drones with thermobaric warheads for quite some time now. What's changing, though, is the size of the warhead, among other things. He said that the explosive payload has grown from 40 kilograms (90 pounds) to 90 kilograms (nearly 200 pounds). "Accordingly, the destructive force is much greater," he said. Oleksiy shared that his unit, which operates truck-mounted machine guns, has not yet shot down the larger thermobaric drones, but he said they started to appear in Ukrainian military reports at the end of last year. A thermobaric munition, also known as a vacuum bomb, disperses an aerosol cloud of explosive material and then ignites it, causing a large fireball and a devastating blast wave while sucking out the surrounding oxygen. These destructive and controversial weapons cause high-temperature blasts that can run hotter than 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit and last longer than typical explosions. The intense pressure and heat can destroy fortified buildings and cause severe injuries and death, especially in enclosed spaces. A first responder in Ukraine's State Emergency Services, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, explained to BI that the "thermobaric warheads are much more deadly and destructive" than standard explosives. The first responder said they were not aware of larger warheads, but they shared that Russia has been using the drones with thermobaric payloads more frequently than before. They said these weapons can burn "everything" around them. Oleksiy said the thermobaric munitions can destroy everything from small homes to multi-story buildings. BI could not independently verify all of the details of the two Ukrainian accounts. Russia's defense ministry and its embassy in the US did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations. Russia's military has been accused of deploying thermobaric weapons since the early days of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv and the UK have specifically called out the use of the TOS-1A, an armored multiple rocket launcher that can fire munitions with thermobaric warheads. Britain's defense ministry previously said that the Russian military used this weapon in its wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya. Kateryna Stepanenko, the Russia deputy team lead at the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said that Moscow began to integrate thermobaric warheads into Shahed drones at scale last summer and fall, enabling these weapons to "inflict more damage on buildings." Stepanenko told BI that Russia used Shaheds with thermobaric warheads in an attack on civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv last week and that Russian sourcing suggests Moscow is also using these bombs against Ukrainian military targets along the front lines. While the use of thermobaric warheads is not new, Russia continues to adapt the ways it delivers these strikes, she said. "The integration of thermobaric warheads onto cheaply made drones may allow Russia to increase the number of strikes that previously would've required a larger and more detectable system, such as TOS-1," Stepanenko said, adding that "the Russians are also trying to make these strikes more precise." Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military said that it carried out a long-range attack on a Russian factory making thermobaric warheads for Shahed drones, possibly reflecting Kyiv's efforts to curb this threat. The assessment comes as Russia has stepped up its attacks with the notorious Shahed-136, an Iranian-designed drone that Moscow now mass-produces in its own factories. Shaheds, also known as loitering munitions because they can linger above a target before attacking it, travel at slower speeds than cruise or ballistic missiles. The drones, however, are much cheaper, allowing Russia to use them for large-scale bombardments. In recent weeks, Russia has staged massive attacks against Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones, including Shaheds and decoy systems intended to exhaust Kyiv's limited air defense stockpiles. Just on Tuesday, for instance, Ukraine's air force said Russia attacked with nearly 270 Shahed and decoy drones, adding that two-thirds of the munitions were shot down.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What Ukraine's air defenders and first responders are seeing in Russia's deadly double-tap strikes
Russia has been accused of carrying out double-tap strikes against Ukraine throughout the war. This style of attack, seen in Syria, involves striking the same target twice to maximize damage. A Ukrainian air defender and a first responder described what this deadly tactic has been like. Russian forces have been using attack drones and missiles to execute double-tap strikes, a Ukrainian air defender and a first responder told Business Insider, sharing their observations of the brutal tactic. The tactic involves striking a target location, waiting for emergency services and other civilians to arrive at the site, and then hitting the same exact spot again in a follow-up attack. United Nations officials have described the strategy in Ukraine as "ruthless." Oleksiy, the deputy commander of a mobile air defense unit with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, said that Russia has increasingly paired drone attacks with cruise missiles, using the two weapons simultaneously "to intimidate the population." He said Russia first launches drones, which sometimes strike civilian infrastructure or housing. When rescuers, medics, and volunteers arrive on the scene to provide assistance, "a missile arrives that leaves no chance." A first responder in Ukraine's State Emergency Services, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, described a Russian attack in June that saw a drone hit a recreation complex near Kyiv, and after rescue crews arrived on the scene, a second drone struck the facility. The first responder shared video footage with BI showing emergency workers at the facility in Bila Tserkva, which was engulfed in fire and smoke. They said that they have not encountered a double-tap strike using missiles, just drones, but the practice is not unheard of. On Friday, the State Emergency Service issued a statement about double-tap strikes targeting rescue workers in the northeastern city of Kharkiv and in the southern city of Kherson. The first responder BI spoke with also mentioned another Russian double-tap strike several weeks earlier near Kyiv. Surveillance footage shared with BI captures what appears to be the scream of a drone as it flew toward its target, followed by the sound of an explosion and a burst of light. It's unclear how often this tactic is employed, and Business Insider could not independently verify all the details of the two Ukrainian accounts. Russia's defense ministry did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. The Russian embassy in the US referred BI to a press briefing held on Wednesday by Maria Zakharova, the foreign ministry spokesperson. The Russian armed forces have been accused of carrying out double-tap strikes against Ukrainian cities since the early days of the full-scale invasion over three years ago. Last year, for instance, an attack on the port city of Odesa killed and wounded dozens of civilians and emergency workers. Russia was accused of executing similar deadly attacks in Syria after intervening on behalf of the Assad government in the country's brutal civil war. Moscow's playbook in Ukraine has often resembled its Middle East campaign, with brutal, scorched-earth tactics. Conflict analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said on Monday the Russian military is "very likely intentionally targeting Ukrainian civilians, including with double tap' strikes likely meant to kill first responders." The Ukrainian observations of the double-tap strikes come as Russia's air attacks have gotten worse. In recent weeks, it has become more and more common for Kyiv to face daily bombardments that consist of hundreds of drones and missiles. Last week, Moscow launched some 550 munitions in a single night. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is halting shipments of critical weapons — reported to include air defense ammunition and other essential weapons — to Ukraine amid concerns over US stockpiles. The decision to withhold US support could severely undermine Kyiv's ability to protect its cities and front-line forces from Russia's worsening attacks. In a statement last week, Ukraine's foreign ministry said any delay in support for its defensive capabilities would only encourage Russia to continue its war. And analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, warned that the suspension of US aid will only accelerate Moscow's battlefield gains, as has been the case previously. After a phone call with President Donald Trump on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the two leaders "spoke about opportunities in air defense and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies." Read the original article on Business Insider
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Russia drones: Thought U.S. and EU drones were superior? Russia unleashes drones that fly higher and faster — here's all about them
Russia Using Modified Drones Drones Flying in Higher Altitudes, Bigger Challenge For Ukraine MANPADS: The Weapon Ukraine Needs ADVERTISEMENT FAQs Russia has recently changed its drone strategy, by operating it at higher altitudes and using modified drones that fly faster, and only higher-reaching weapons can be used to beat them, as per a drone used by Russia to attack Ukraine is the Shahed-136, which is an Iranian-designed weapon that Moscow now also produces in its own country, according to Business Insider. While, traditionally the Shahed-136, which is a one-way attack drone, could fly at speeds of over 115 mph with a 90-pound explosive warhead, reported Business Insider. But now, Russia has started using a modified version of the drone with an engine that lets it travel at speeds of more than 180 mph, as per the previously, Russia would launch its Shaheds at low altitudes to avoid radar detection, but now, the country is flying the drones higher, at more than 8,000 feet, which is beyond the reach of the machine guns that the Ukrainian mobile air defence unit uses to defend, according to Business who is the deputy commander of an air defence unit with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, said that the newer tactic "makes the Shaheds inaccessible to mobile fire groups", all they can do is "observe them and report back," as reported by Business commander pointed out that, "To overcome this altitude barrier and stably engage drones with firepower, mobile groups need to use additional weapons, like shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, or Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS)," as quoted in the also added that, "If our unit were additionally equipped with a manual MANPADS, the effectiveness of destroying air targets would increase by twofold," quoted Business a one-way attack drone originally designed in Iran and now built in Russia, used for long-range newer, modified versions can reach speeds over 180 mph, much faster than earlier models.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia's attack drones are flying higher and faster. A Ukrainian air defender says old machine guns aren't enough to kill them anymore.
Russia's drone attacks have become more complex and difficult to defend against. A Ukrainian team leader overseeing a mobile air defense unit said the drones fly faster and higher. He said his unit needs shoulder-launched missiles in addition to the machine guns it has been using. Russia's drone attacks are becoming increasingly complex, with enemy threats becoming harder to kill, the team leader for a Ukrainian mobile air defense unit told Business Insider. He said higher-reaching weapons are needed to beat them. Oleksiy, the deputy commander of an air defense unit with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, said Russia's drone tactics have changed over the last few months; it is now operating drones at higher altitudes and using modified ones that can fly faster. This presents a challenge for air defenders, particularly those armed only with pickup truck-mounted machine guns. At the heart of Russia's drone attacks is the Shahed-136, an Iranian-designed weapon that Moscow now also produces at home. Historically, these one-way attack drones could fly at speeds of over 115 mph with a nearly 90-pound explosive warhead. Though the Shaheds are slower and less lethal than cruise or ballistic missiles, they are significantly cheaper, allowing Russia to launch them in large-scale attacks. Last weekend, for instance, Moscow sent 273 of them into Ukraine, marking one of its largest drone attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago. Oleksiy, whose unit is tasked with protecting civilians and critical infrastructure on the outskirts of Kyiv, said that Russia still operates the conventional Shaheds. But Moscow is now using a modified version with an engine that enables it to travel at speeds of over 180 mph. It has also increased the explosive payloads of the old and new drones to more than double the original. Russia is using decoy drones, too. These don't have warheads but are designed to exhaust Ukraine's air defenses because they look convincing, appearing just as deadly as the real thing. And while they are unarmed, these drones can perform long-distance reconnaissance missions. Russia used to launch its Shaheds at low altitudes to avoid radar detection. However, it is now flying the drones higher, at over 8,000 feet — beyond the reach of the machine guns that the mobile units are using. BI previously observed Oleksiy's unit fielding a .50 caliber M2 Browning mounted in the bed of a truck. Oleksiy said that this newer tactic makes the Shaheds inaccessible to mobile fire groups like his — all they can do is observe them and report back. These loitering munitions can then gather in a specific area and simultaneously strike targets. He said that while the Ukrainians can still shoot them down, the kill figures "have begun to decrease." Russia's defense ministry and its embassy in the US did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the change in tactics described to BI. In a February intelligence update, Britain's defense ministry wrote that Russia could likely launch at least 2,000 drones each month for the entire year. On Saturday night alone, it attacked Ukraine with almost 300 drones, Kyiv said. "To overcome this altitude barrier and stably engage drones with firepower, mobile groups need to use additional weapons," like shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, or MANPADS, Oleksiy said. MANPADS stands for Man-Portable Air Defense Systems. In Ukraine, common examples are the American-made FIM-92 Stinger or Soviet-era 9K38 Igla. These are typically used to shoot down threats like low-flying aircraft, such as helicopters, and even cruise missiles. "Right now, there is a shortage of inexpensive, hand-held MANPADS systems to shoot down drones," Oleksiy explained. "The military is ready to undergo a rapid course in MANPADS operation and use this means of destruction when it is impossible to do so with machine guns." He said that a combined-arms approach to destroying drones, like using portable missile launchers in tandem with machine guns, would strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself. "If our unit were additionally equipped with a manual MANPADS," he said, "the effectiveness of destroying air targets would increase by twofold." Read the original article on Business Insider
