The nights in kyiv have ceased to be calm. The war against Russia is felt so much in the Ukrainian capital that, one day, Olexander Reshetnikof 4 yearshe surprised his parents with this proposal: “We go to the parking lot now so that we can sleep well and do not have to wake up twice to take us there and return”.
His family lives on the 18th floor of a skyscraper, where Each air alert means a long and dangerous descent towards the underground garagewhich also works as anti -aircraft During Russian attacks, more and more constant and violent.
This scene has become common in kyiv, where Russian drones attacks have intensified in recent weeks. Khrystyna ReshetnikOlexander’s mother, that it is no longer uncommon to see explosions from the windows or observe drones demolished in full flight: “Lately, they have been flying like a swarm that not for three or four hours”.
The change is notorious. Russia has increased not only number of drones usedbut also his tactical capacity. In a single night attack, he came to launch until 479 drones and missilesmany of them of the type ShahedIranian design.
Military and psychological impact
Christina Harwardof the Institute for the Study of War, affirms that Moscow can currently produce about 2,700 Shahed drones and 2,500 drones lure per month. This aerial avalanche overwhelms Ukrainian defenses, which they must choose between trying to knock down real drones or risk sophisticated lures.
The new Russian tactics include concentrate their attacks in a few cities simultaneouslyachieving an impact not only military but psychological. This week, the whites were Kyiv, Odesa and Járkov. “They can achieve maximum effect, both kinetic and psychological”he explains Oleksiy Melnykformer official of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The consequences are devastating: At least 154 civilians have died and 900 have been injured by drones, missiles and artillery In the last four weeks. Russia insists that it does not attack civilians, but the figures and testimonies say otherwise.
Yuriy ChumakJudge of the Supreme Court and volunteer in a Night Drone Surveillance Unit, describes a desperate scenario: “There are many more drones. It is an objective fact. And, of course, The more there is, the more difficult it will be to fight them“. Now they fly between two and five kilometers of altitudeoutside the range of machine guns. Only missiles can tear them down, but they are scarce.
Nevertheless, The Ukrainian defense system still manages to intercept about 80% of drones. Even so, the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski, has warned that Ukraine can only produce one third of the drones that Moscow throws daily. “We have the technology. The question is when we can expand”concludes.
