Russia has significantly increased production of Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones and introduced a new tactic of “swarm” attacks against Ukraine, Andriy Kovalenko, director of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, reported on Telegram on April 22.
Shahed drones have become “a cheap weapon for terrorizing civilians,” as Russia now employs swarm tactics, amassing larger numbers of drones and crews.
Additionally, Russian forces have expanded attacks to both nighttime and daytime operations.
In the early hours of April 22, Russia launched 54 drones targeting Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses downed 38 of these, while 16 were reported as “lost to radar.”
Later that day, Kharkiv endured multiple waves of explosions from a massive Shahed drone assault.
The attacks affected not only Kharkiv but also nearby settlements. In the regional capital, seven people were reportedly injured.