Russia to ramp up drone production for winter strikes on Ukraine in 2025 - ISW

This is stated in a report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Analysts have already noted signs that Western sanctions are complicating Russia's ability to obtain quality components for Shahed drones, and that the Russian military complex is increasingly relying on low-quality Chinese engines to power these drones.

At the same time, Ukrainian innovations in the field of electronic warfare also allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to more effectively repel Shahed strikes.

The ISW predicts that Russian forces will likely continue to adjust their strike packages throughout the winter of 2024-2025 to inflict significant damage on Ukraine's energy system and critical infrastructure.

“Russia likely intends to further increase its production and use of Shahed drones following the anticipated signing of the Russian-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in January 2025,” the experts of the Institute note.

• Ukraine's Ambassador to the European Union, Vsevolod Chentsov, revealed that Russians equip Shahed drones with AI for autonomous target recognition, complicating countermeasures and endangering critical infrastructure.