Russia Deploys Jet-Powered Shahed Drones in Latest Strikes on Ukraine

Russian forces have launched jet-powered variants of the Shahed drone in recent attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, according to Ukrainian officials. These drones, which fly faster and at higher altitudes than earlier propeller-driven models, are significantly more difficult to intercept, requiring Ukraine to use costly and limited surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat stated that eight jet-powered Shaheds were among more than 300 drones launched in the latest barrage. "Basically, on radar it is displayed as a cruise missile by flight parameters, because the speed there can be 500-plus kilometers per hour (310mph)," Ignat explained. "Not all means that we use today can intercept such targets."

The attack resulted in at least 13 deaths and over 130 injuries, with the capital Kyiv being a primary target. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that emergency services were responding in several affected regions, including Dnipro, Poltava, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv.

The jet-powered drones are believed to be a version of the Shahed-238, first unveiled by Iran in November 2023. According to leaked documents, the Shahed-238 can reach speeds up to 600 km/h (about 370 mph), altitudes of nearly six miles, and has a range between 620 and 1,240 miles. In comparison, the widely used Shahed-136 has a slower cruising speed and longer range.

Ukrainian defense sources and analysts note that the performance of the Shahed-238 makes it difficult for both mobile gun crews and electric-motor interceptor drones to counter. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov acknowledged the challenge, stating, "We need to work on this. They are already integrating various solutions that allow Shaheds to bypass interceptors, and we are implementing other solutions. Therefore, this is a daily change of tactics."

Ukraine has begun developing faster interceptor drones, but scaling up production is hampered by Russian attacks on facilities and supply chain disruptions, Fedorov added. Meanwhile, Russia's ability to mass-produce the more complex jet-powered drones remains uncertain due to higher costs and manufacturing challenges, despite ongoing support from suppliers in China.

Military observers suggest Russia may be testing the effectiveness of Ukrainian interceptors against these new drones. While jet-powered Shaheds currently make up a small fraction of Russian drone attacks, their use could increase and further strain Ukraine's air defense resources, which rely on expensive missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM and Patriot PAC-3.