The Economist explains

Will Russia’s drone attacks change the war in Ukraine?

Probably not in the way Russia hopes

TOPSHOT - A drone approaches for an attack in Kyiv on October 17, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)
|3 min read

UKRAINIANS SAY the drones buzz like flying mopeds or chainsaws. In recent days Russia has unleashed a deadly wave of drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, the capital. Most of the drones appear to have been the Iranian-made Shahed-136, a “kamikaze” model that detonates on impact. They have only recently made an appearance in Ukraine but quickly left their mark. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, claims that Russia has ordered 2,400 Iranian drones. What impact might they have on the war?

This article appeared in the The Economist explains section of the print edition under the headline “Will Russia’s drone attacks change the war in Ukraine?”

A house-price horror show

From the October 22nd 2022 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition
Ukrainian drone operator works to correct artillery fire in the city of Bahkmut.

How drones and video-game techniques are coming together in Ukraine’s war

The idea of the body count evolves

Blue sky, mountainous landscape in the background, with a rope bridge over the Indus River. A motocyclist is crossing the bridge.

Why are India and Pakistan fighting over water?

After terror attacks India has suspended a water-sharing treaty 


A destroyed Russian tank sits on a roadside near the town of Sudzha, Ukraine

How will mines dropped by drones change warfare?

They make attacks on tanks more precise and troops easier to trap


What do Greenlanders think of being bought?

Donald Trump’s desire for Greenland, and a shabby visit by his son, reignite the independence debate

What would Donald Trump gain from seizing the Panama Canal?

The president-elect claims the crossing is controlled by China and rips off American consumers

Where does Santa come from?

How a miracle-working Greek bishop, Dutch folk figure and early New York icon became the ubiquitous symbol of Christmas