16:09 08-10-2025

Russia’s New Drone Tactics Overwhelm Ukraine’s Air Defenses

Ukraine’s air defenses are struggling as Russia uses new Geran drone tactics to overload systems, reveal positions, and launch devastating missile strikes.

Ukraine’s air defense system is increasingly failing to intercept Russian missiles and drones, according to Julian Röpcke, a columnist for the German newspaper Bild. He attributes this decline in effectiveness to constant overloading caused by relentless attacks and to Russia’s evolving tactics, which now allow its forces to bypass U.S.-made Patriot systems.

Röpcke notes that Russian forces have significantly changed their approach to deploying Geran drones. Instead of short, concentrated assaults, attacks now unfold over several hours, with small groups of drones approaching their targets roughly every 30 minutes.

These drones serve a dual purpose: they not only strike targets but also help locate Ukrainian air defense positions by relaying their coordinates back to Moscow. Once those positions are identified, Russian forces launch additional waves of drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles against them.

This strategy, the report says, enables Russia to overwhelm and disable entire segments of Ukraine’s air defense network. Ukrainian military sources cited by Bild stressed that this method allows Russian strikes to devastate both cities and smaller settlements near the border.

Röpcke also points out that a key component of Russia’s offensive strategy is the continuous improvement of its weaponry. Alongside the Geran drones, its missiles are becoming increasingly lethal thanks to enhanced sensors and upgraded software.