Russia shifts drone warfare tactics against Ukrainian cities, escalating aerial threat

Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko discussed the issue on his Telegram channel.

According to him, Russia has modified its approach to maximize the impact of its aerial terror campaign. Rather than sending drones in multiple small waves, Russian forces now first gather them in large formations over the sea, roughly 30 kilometers from the coastline. These groups linger in the air until all drones are assembled, a process that can take up to 30 minutes, before advancing toward their targets.

Once they begin their attack, the drones no longer follow a single trajectory. Instead, they disperse and strike from multiple angles, making interception more difficult. Additionally, reconnaissance drones such as Forpost and Orion often accompany the assault, providing real-time intelligence to Russian operators.

Kovalenko emphasizes that countering this evolving threat requires immediate tactical adjustments. He outlines several key measures, including increasing the number of mobile fire teams and strategically positioning them to cover potential entry points. Given that Shahed-136 drones can reach the coast in under 10 minutes, a more dynamic response system is crucial.

Another vital step is deploying additional short-range air defense systems along the coastline. This could involve Western-provided systems like Crotale, Alvis Stormer, and HAWK, or Soviet-era options such as the S-125, Strela-10, and OSA. High-mobility electronic warfare (EW) systems like Bukovel could also be adapted for Odesa’s unique terrain to disrupt enemy drones mid-flight.

“The enemy is adapting to our defenses, and we must do the same,” Kovalenko warns. “If we fail to respond effectively, Russia’s evolving terror tactics could have devastating consequences for Odesa and the entire region, which remains highly vulnerable from the sea.”

• On the evening of Monday, March 10, the Russian army launched strike drones over Ukrainian territory, damaging homes in the Kyiv region and causing a fire in the Odesa region.