Russian drone modifications

Russia targets Sumy residential sector with modified drone

Russian forces launched a drone strike on Sumy on the morning of June 27, injuring 11 people, including two children, Ukraine’s National Police said.

27 June, 12:22 PM

Russia deploys new Molniya and jet-powered Shahed drones in strikes on Kharkiv

An explosion rang out in Kharkiv after a Russian jet-powered Shahed drone struck the city's Osnovyanskyi district while a Molniya drone hit the Industrialnyi district, Suspilne and Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on June 24.

24 June, 08:05 AM

Moscow upgrades its attack drones with evasive maneuver capabilities

Russian Shahed-type drones have begun executing evasive maneuvers when approached by Ukrainian interceptor drones, Ukrainian Defense Ministry advisor Serhii (Flash) Beskrestnov reported on April 30.

30 April, 02:00 PM

Russian-built Shaheds abandon Iranian parts for Chinese tech - video

95% of the components in Russian-produced Shahed-type drones are now of Chinese, rather than Iranian, origin, Russian-Ukrainian war veteran and former Aidar battalion company commander Yevhen Dykyi said in an interview with Radio NV on March 3.

4 March, 08:26 AM

Russia retools Shahed drones to threaten Ukrainian interceptors - video

Russian forces are testing a new modification of Shahed drones equipped with a rear-facing air-to-air missile, a move likely aimed at countering Ukraine’s air defense, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Feb. 8.

9 February, 09:38 AM

MANPADS-armed Shaheds still vulnerable to Ukrainian interceptor drones — ISW

Moscow has started bolting MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems) onto Shahed strike drones, but the “upgrade” does little to protect them from Ukrainian interceptors, the Institute for the Study of War wrote on Jan. 5.

6 January, 10:00 AM

Russia modifies attack drones every 2–3 months, forcing Ukraine to adapt — Zelenskyy

Ukraine is constantly adjusting its defenses against Russian attack drones, updating countermeasures every two to three months in response to Russia’s rapid drone modifications, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sept. 11.

11 September 2025, 08:35 PM

Russia launches new Dan-M drone capable of flying at 9 kilometers

Russian forces used a new type of jet-powered combat drone, the Dan-M, in a morning attack on Ukraine on May 29, according to military communications and electronic warfare expert Serhiy Beskrestnov (also known as “Flash”), writing on Telegram.

29 May 2025, 02:15 PM

Russian drone modifications