Why Russia is stepping up Shahed drone attacks on front lines

Andrii Otchenash, commander with Ukraine's 4th Bridge’s Kara Nebesna UAV crew, spoke about this on Hromadske Radio.

“In reality, there is no panacea or single factor. It’s a synthesis of a large amount of electronic technology used by the enemy. Starting with Shaheds, which they have begun using even in frontline cities, Lancets, and so on, to regular FPV drones, including those with fiber optics, and aerial bomb drops. On the front line, the biggest problem is, of course, bomb drops and various types of FPV drones,” he explained.

Answering a question about why Russian troops have started using Shaheds even at the front line, the soldier highlighted two reasons.

“I think it depends on the production volume of Shahed-type drones. If they can use them on frontline cities or at the front line, it means that Russia has increased its production. They have probably established an efficient manufacturing process, and they likely have a surplus of them — at least relatively speaking. Plus, compared to KAB or FAB guided bombs, it’s a 100% cheaper method. It causes less damage, but if you use three or four of them, it becomes a real threat,” he noted.

He added that four Shaheds recently struck civilian areas in Izium, Kharkiv region.

“That is, absolutely senselessly and indiscriminately, as Russians like to do — just targeting civilians. Most likely, they have set up sufficient mass production of these drones and now use them however they please,” Andrii Otchenash added.

• On the evening of Sunday, March 16, the Russian army launched strike drones on Ukrainian territory. Air defense was active in the Kyiv city and the Kyiv region. Due to drone debris falling in the Kremenchuk district of Poltava region, emergency power outages were introduced. In the Odesa region, one person was injured.