Russia launches reconnaissance drones without GPS signal - Ukraine's Air Force

Yurii Ihnat, a representative of Ukraine's Air Force, said this on Radio Liberty.

"The Russian forces are using new tactics: they launch UAVs without navigation, without a GPS signal. And this signal is turned on directly over the object that the enemy plans to reconnoiter and strike there with Iskander. Thus, we also have to respond to this situation," he said.

Ihnat noted that the Defense Forces must implement effective means of countering Russian reconnaissance UAVs.

"Innovative solutions are being sought now. They are already working on enemy reconnaissance drones, FPV drones, anti-aircraft drones, as they are called, and they are working quite successfully. I think that the entire Defense Forces should also pay attention to this and implement such means that are relatively cheap compared to spending missiles. Well, you have to have a missile, and missiles today perform a deterrent function," said the Air Force representative.

According to him, up to 50 drones are flying along the front line every day, when some types of UAVs can get into the rear.

"As we speak, dozens of UAVs - 30-40 - are flying along the front line... In the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, they are conducting aerial reconnaissance around the clock, where active hostilities are taking place. Sometimes drones fly deep into our territory. Yes, there are various means of counteraction: there are mobile fire groups, fighter aircraft can be used. We already have positive experience with Yak-52s in the South, and we also have electronic warfare systems," Ihnat said.

• On May 3, it was reported that the Russians had intensified the use of reconnaissance UAVs, reducing the number of Shaheds.