Russia starts using Shahed-136 drones with thermobaric warheads - ISW
Photo: Russians have modernized Shahed attack drones (RBC-Ukraine collage)
Russian forces started using Shahed-136 drones equipped with thermobaric warheads, making the TOS-1A Solntsepyok systems invisible, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise examined debris from the Shahed-136 drones that Russian forces employed during a series of strikes from October 26 to 29.
The study's findings indicate that Russian forces modified the drones to mount thermobaric warheads.
Invisible Solntsepyok
Additionally, Ruselectronics, a subsidiary of the Russian state defense conglomerate Rostec, developed a coating for the thermobaric artillery systems TOS-1A Solntsepyok. This coating absorbs radio waves, rendering the systems invisible to modern targeting systems and thermal imaging devices.
Nighttime Shahed attacks
In the early hours of October 29, Russian forces launched kamikaze drone attacks using Shahed drones against Ukraine. Debris from the strikes caused a fire near a building in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv.
On the night of October 28, Russian forces targeted energy infrastructure in the Sumy region with drones.
During a Shahed attack on October 27, power outages occurred in Sumy, while a fire broke out at an infrastructure facility in Uman, Cherkasy region.
