Russia has been “very ineffective” in using drones to attack Ukrainian targets, British defense officials have said.
In May, Russia deployed more than 300 Iranian-made Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Ukraine in its “most intensive use of this weapon” so far in its full-scale invasion, the Kingdom’s Defense Ministry said on Monday. Kingdom (MOD).
The goal was to force kyiv to deplete stocks of its advanced air defense missiles. However, it is “unlikely that Moscow has had any notable success” because Ukraine intercepted at least 90 percent of the drones using older and cheaper air defenses, as well as jamming the devices electronically, according to Monday’s update.
Moscow forces have also likely been trying to locate and attack Ukrainian troops far behind the front line. However, Russian forces have been “highly ineffective in hitting such dynamic targets at a distance due to their poor targeting processes.”
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news week has contacted the Russian MoD about the UK update which tends to emphasize kyiv’s gains and Moscow’s losses.
On Sunday, Russia carried out the fourth straight day of drone and missile strikes in Ukraine. Kiev said Moscow forces had launched five Shahed-136/131 drones from Russia’s Bryansk Oblast and six Khinzhal cruise missiles fired from Tupolov Tu-95 bombers over the Caspian Sea.
Ukrainian forces said they shot down three Shahed drones and four cruise missiles. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said two Russian missiles hit an airfield in Kirovohrad Oblast and two Shahed drones hit targets in Sumy Oblast.
On Saturday, more than 30 Russian drones and missiles were shot down in kyiv alone, the Ukrainian capital’s military administration reported on Telegram.
Iran has denied that it is supplying so-called suicide drones to Moscow for use in Ukraine, but Britain’s Sky News broadcaster said it had obtained the first hard evidence that Tehran had been aiding Moscow’s war effort.
The 16-page document, dated September 14, 2022, appears to be for different types of artillery and tank and rocket shells worth just over $1 million, as well as a $740,000 barrel deal for a tank. T-72, a Howitzer artillery piece and ammunition shells.
A security source told Sky this showed a contract between the Iranians and the Russians which “we believe is 100 per cent authentic.”
Meanwhile, Russia said on Monday that it had repelled a “major offensive” in the Donetsk region of Ukraine and that 250 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed. kyiv has not commented on the claims that have not been independently verified but come amid anticipation of a kyiv counteroffensive.