The night of July 30 marks an important moment in military operations in Ukraine, when Russian occupation forces (ROV) applied an unprecedented strategy using eight reactive drones. The attack, carried out with 78 kamikaze drones of the Shahed-136, "Gerber", and "Parodiy" types, reveals new tactical dimensions in modern hybrid warfare.
Experts from the "Informational Resistance" group analyze this significant incident, which differs significantly from previous similar attacks. The key innovation lies in the coordinated use of a group of reactive drones, which poses new challenges for Ukrainian air defense.
Although official sources still lack specific information about the exact type of reactive drones, there are strong assumptions that they represent a localized Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-238. This model, introduced in November 2023, possesses several modifications with different self-guidance systems, including electro-optical and radar sensors.
The technological characteristics of these reactive drones are extremely impressive. They develop a speed of around 550 kilometers per hour, which significantly exceeds the parameters of standard unmanned aerial vehicles. This high speed creates serious challenges for mobile fire groups, which are primarily equipped with light small arms.
The strategic goal of ROV appears to be multilayered. First, they are testing the effectiveness of reactive drones against modern anti-aircraft systems. Second, they seek to exhaust Ukrainian air defense through a combined attack involving different types of drones and decoys.
Despite technological advantages, experts emphasize that reactive drones have significant limitations. Compared to classical Shahed-136, they lag in terms of costs, range, and maneuverability. Their only significant advantage is exceptional speed.
Military analysts warn that this new approach should not be perceived as a revolutionary breakthrough, but definitely represents an evolution in remote attack tactics. Reactive drones have the potential to create difficulties for short-term mobile formations and exert additional pressure on air defense systems.
The question remains open whether this tactic will be widely adopted or represents another experimental attempt by Russian occupation forces. However, it undoubtedly requires in-depth analysis and adaptation of defensive strategies on the Ukrainian side.