ISW: Russia steps up use of Shahed drones for frontline attacks
Russian forces are ramping up their use of Shahed-type drones to strike Ukrainian targets along the front line, according to a new report from the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), published on June 27.
ISW analysts cited a Russian military blogger (“voenkor”) who claims that Russia is replacing guided aerial bombs (KABs) with domestically produced Geran-2 and Geran-3 drones — Russian versions of Iran’s Shahed-136 — to hit targets at short and medium ranges near the front.
According to the blogger, Russia began changing its drone tactics last winter after scaling up production of upgraded Geran-2 drones with improved speed, range, and payload capacity. He said these drones are now used to strike Ukrainian ammo depots, command centers, and fortified positions along and behind the front line.
The blogger also claimed that Russia’s 51st Combined Arms Army (formerly the 1st Army Corps of the so-called “DNR”) was among the first to adopt mass use of Shahed-type drones on the battlefield. He added that Russia’s Central Grouping of Forces — operating mainly in the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka sectors — is expected to switch to Geran-2 drones once production ramps up further.
In one post, the blogger suggested that Russian forces may eventually be able to replace 500- and 1,000-kilogram KABs with jet-powered Geran-3 drones, which allegedly carry a 300-kilogram warhead and can reach speeds up to 500 kilometers per hour. He also speculated that reducing flight range could allow for an even larger payload — up to 500 kilograms.
ISW said the blogger’s claims largely align with independent observations that Russian troops are increasingly using Shahed-type drones for tactical strikes along the front. This shift has been made possible by increased production and improved accuracy of Russia’s Geran drones, allowing for more frequent and effective deployment near the front lines, the analysts concluded.
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