This was stated in an interview with RBK-Ukraine by Major General Vadim Skibitsky, the Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The main points of Skibitsky's statement were conveyed by Glavpost.
According to Skibitsky, while in 2023 and early 2024 Russia primarily utilized only a few types of drones, such as "Geran-1" and "Geran-2," their arsenal has now expanded.
"Today, the range of these unmanned aerial vehicles is so vast that it's difficult to count them all. Among them are 'Geran-1', 'Geran-2', 'Garpia', 'Gerbera', 'Parody', and others," he noted.
Russia's arsenal now includes various types of drones: strike, reconnaissance, as well as decoys that mimic combat drones. This significantly complicates the operations of the Ukrainian air defense, as it becomes hard to identify which of the flying objects pose a real threat.
The production of drones in Russia is concentrated in cities like Izhevsk and Yelabuga, as well as at the facilities of the Kalashnikov Concern. This has allowed for a sharp increase in production volumes. Now, a single strike can involve between 150 to 200 drones.
Furthermore, the Russian command plans to further increase the number of launch platforms, which would allow the simultaneous launch of up to 500 drones.
According to Western intelligence estimates, Russia has managed to boost the production of kamikaze drones and is already using them for more intense attacks. The situation is unlikely to change in the near future, which will create additional challenges for the Ukrainian air defense system.
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