Russia launched a deadly attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities using a mix of drones, including a jet-powered variant of the Shahed drone, which is harder to intercept than its propeller-driven counterpart. These faster drones necessitate the use of expensive surface-to-air missiles by Ukraine. The attack resulted in numerous casualties. While Ukraine is developing interceptor drones, their effectiveness against the jet-powered Shaheds remains uncertain, and production is hampered by ongoing conflict. Russia's ability to mass-produce these advanced drones is also questionable due to production complexities and costs.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.