Russia launched 60 UAVs to attack Ukraine but only 3 returned, why?

According to Defense Express, in the conflict in Ukraine, the tactics of using long-range Kamikaze drones of Russia, especially the Shahed-136, are undergoing changes to improve their effectiveness. According to Ukrainian sources, Russian forces are applying many new measures to optimize attacks, with the aim of weakening the Ukrainian air defense system. Notably, these changes include the use of large numbers of fake targets in attacks, to confuse and prolong the reaction ability of the Ukrainian side.

On the night of October 22, Russia launched 60 drones, of which 42 were shot down, 10 others were lost, and three returned to Russia. Photo: Defense Express

One of the most striking features of the recent attacks was the significant increase in the number of decoy drones used in the first wave. Gerbera UAVs made from lightweight materials such as polymer foam, along with other low-cost UAVs equipped with Luneburg lenses, were used by Russia to fool Ukrainian radar. These UAVs flew at low altitudes, appearing and disappearing from radar screens, making tracking difficult. The appearance of these fake targets forced Ukrainian air defense forces to dispatch mobile firefighting teams to the area, straining the defense system.

In the second wave, the ratio of drones to real targets became more balanced, making it harder for the Ukrainians to distinguish between real threats. In the third wave, almost only warhead-carrying drones remained, maximizing the potential damage. The tactic of dispersing and using decoy targets is believed to have been intended to stretch the Ukrainian air defense system’s ability to react, creating gaps in its defenses.

The Ukrainian source also noted that this tactic has been mentioned on Telegram channels, and Defense Express pointed out that the distribution of real and decoy drones can be flexible. Initially, Russia used Iranian Shahed-136 drones as a diversion, but now they have become the main attack weapon with a range of up to 2,000 km and an endurance of up to 8.5 hours.

However, this new tactic did not come as a surprise to the Ukrainian air defense forces. According to a report from the Ukrainian Air Force Command, in an attack on the night of October 22, Russia launched 60 drones, of which 42 were shot down, 10 were lost, three returned to Russia, one flew to Belarus, and one remained in Ukrainian airspace until the next morning. As a result, 57 of the 60 aircraft did not cause any damage to Ukraine. This shows that, despite the many improvements in Russian tactics, the Ukrainian air defense forces still maintained the initiative in protecting the airspace.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/nga-phong-60-uav-tan-cong-ukraine-nhung-chi-quay-ve-duoc-3-vi-sao-354166.html