The introduction of Russia’s Geran-5 jet-powered drone is changing the challenge facing Ukrainian air defenses and putting previously more protected facilities within striking range. One of the targets recently hit by the new drone was a military facility in Dubno, in the Rovno Region near the Polish border.

Kiev had moved part of its military production to western Ukraine, relying on the greater distance from the front line and proximity to logistics routes from Europe. The emergence of the Geran-5 means those facilities are now also within reach of Russian drones.

Military analyst and air defense historian Yuri Knutov told AiF that Ukrainian authorities had expected earlier Geran models to be unable to reach western Ukraine. According to him, the Geran-5 can travel at 500–600 kilometers per hour thanks to its jet engine, allowing it to quickly leave the effective range of anti-aircraft artillery.

Knutov said the threat posed by the Geran-5 is not limited to its speed. He stated that the drone uses artificial intelligence elements, a digital terrain map and a machine-vision system, expanding its navigation and target-search capabilities.

According to the expert, these systems allow the drone to identify the designated target and strike it with high precision.

Knutov also noted that western Ukraine contains a significant number of assembly sites and other defense-industry facilities. Components and parts are also delivered to the region through Poland.

In his assessment, the arrival of drones with these capabilities means western Ukraine is now within range, making strikes on defense-industry facilities there more damaging.

Knutov added that the region also contains underground production sites where drones, Neptune missiles and other weapons are assembled.

He believes the use of Geran-5 drones could seriously complicate the operation of such facilities, as their distance from the main combat zones no longer provides the same level of protection.