Russia is unleashing record drone attacks on Ukraine with foam decoys and new Shahed warheads

Source and FULL article can be seen here: ABC NET AU

Foam decoys, 'vacuum' warheads, and improved navigation are making Russia's drone attacks larger and more difficult to defend against, experts say.  Moscow is unleashing its expanding arsenal of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) on Ukraine at a rate and intensity never seen before.

A record number of drones were launched across 17 regions in a single attack this week, striking apartment blocks and critical infrastructure. A second major attack followed, targeting energy facilities and cutting power to more than 1 million people. 

Analysts say Russia is now capable of producing up to 100 attack drones a week, and is fitting them with more destructive warheads. And with a number of countries reportedly helping Moscow circumvent sanctions, it is becoming more difficult for Ukraine to keep up.

From a few to hundreds 

Security expert Maria Avdeeva, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said Ukraine had witnessed Russia's drone capabilities growing. 

"We have seen how it has developed from just a few drones overnight to over 100 at a time," she told the ABC.

About 188 drones were launched at Ukrainian cities on Tuesday, local authorities said.

It was the largest single drone attack since the start of the full-scale war. "The enemy launched a record number of Shahed attack UAVs and unidentified drones," Ukraine's air force said, adding that four Iskander-M ballistic missiles were also used. 

"Unfortunately, critical infrastructure facilities were hit, private and apartment buildings were damaged in several regions due to massive drone attacks."  Ukraine said its air defences shot down 76, while it lost track of 96. 

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