Russia's jet-powered Shaheds reach western Ukraine for the first time

Jet-powered Shaheds attack western Ukraine

The jet-powered drones flew over the Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Rivne and Volyn regions.

At 5:55 p.m., the Air Force reported that a drone was flying through the Vinnytsia region toward the Khmelnytskyi region (Nova Ushytsia/Dunaivtsi). Half an hour later, the jet-powered UAV flew through the Ternopil region toward Volyn, reaching Dubno.

Later, Rivne Regional Military Administration head Oleksandr Koval said an aerial target had been shot down in the southern part of the region, likely the same jet-powered Shahed.

Record distance

Experts had estimated the operational range of jet-powered drones at up to 500 kilometers. As a result, these UAVs had mostly targeted the following regions:

• Kyiv;
• Chernihiv;
• Kharkiv;
• Odesa;
• Sumy;
• Poltava;
• Dnipropetrovsk.

This is the first time jet-powered drones have flown this far.

If the drone is controlled using a mesh network, the range can be increased. However, this requires a repeater every 100 kilometers.

Russia is trying to launch Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered drones toward western Ukraine, The Telegraph reported.

Details of the jet-powered drone attack

The eRadar Telegram channel analyzed the flight path of the jet-powered drone, which was launched from Crimea:

• actual distance traveled: about 850-920 kilometers, including maneuvering;
• penetration depth: more than 720 kilometers in a straight line from the launch point into Ukraine.

Why Russia did this:

• To show that jet-powered drones can travel more than 900 kilometers. This puts the entire territory of Ukraine within their potential strike range.
• The route through southern, central and western regions was planned in advance to avoid Ukrainian air defense systems.
• The high speed of the jet engine, reaching more than 400-600 km/h, significantly reduces the chances of shooting down the drone with small arms or heavy machine guns. Conventional mobile fire groups are unlikely to be very effective.

Russia is therefore actively:

• modifying its attack systems;
• extending the range of its jet-powered UAVs;
• improving its maneuvering tactics to reach areas deep behind the front lines.

Jet-powered guided drones also pose a threat to western Ukraine, monitors conclude.

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that explosions were heard in Kyiv on the evening of August 18 amid an air raid alert and an attack involving jet-powered drones.

It was also reported that Russian drones attacked the Kyiv region on August 18. Civilian facilities were damaged in Brovary, and fires broke out at three locations.

In addition, the Institute for the Study of War said Russia is actively expanding its network of launch sites for long-range attack drones. Western Ukraine is likely to be one of the targets.