Russia prepares new mid-strike drones to hit Ukraine’s supply lines
Photo: Wreckage of a Russian Shahed drone (National Police of Ukraine)
Russia is actively developing a new class of mid-strike drones designed to attack Ukraine’s logistics routes, said Trident Group CEO Yurii Humenchuk in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
What Russia’s new drones could look like
According to the head of Trident Group, Russia is seeking a balanced solution between relatively inexpensive drones such as the Molniya and heavy, massive Shahed-type kamikaze drones.
"We must prepare very seriously for the large-scale deployment of these systems on the battlefield," Humenchuk stressed.
Will civilian vehicles and autonomous interceptors help Russia?
Commenting on Russia’s changing battlefield tactics, including the use of civilian vehicles by Russian troops, Humenchuk said this would not solve their operational challenges, as most large military equipment cannot be transported in an ordinary pickup truck.
He also believes that Russia is unlikely to deploy a large number of autonomous interceptor drones in the near future. Such a capability would require not only an effective interceptor drone but also a comprehensive detection network and a sophisticated command-and-control infrastructure.
Most likely, Russian interceptor drones will serve as point air defense, protecting critical facilities such as oil refineries and industrial plants, as well as major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia’s biggest advantage: Electronic warfare
A far more serious threat, Humenchuk warned, is Russia’s continued expansion of its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. To achieve this, the enemy possesses proven technological solutions, deep specialized expertise, and well-established serial production and infrastructure.
As Russian electronic warfare capabilities continue to evolve, the Ukrainian military and developers face a continuous, high demand to create novel, unconventional communication methods to bypass enemy jamming.
