Russia Plans to Increase Drone Attacks on Ukraine to 500 Shaheds and UAVs per Launch

Russia is preparing to launch up to 500 drones at Ukraine simultaneously, significantly increasing its aerial assault capabilities, according to Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) deputy chief Vadym Skibitskyi, reported by RBC-Ukraine on March 3.

Skibitskyi revealed that Russian drone production surged, with facilities in Izhevsk, Yelabuga, and the Kalashnikov Concern ramping up output. This expansion enables Russian forces to significantly increase the number of drones launched in a single attack.

“The Russian army is now planning to create more launch sites, which will allow them to fire approximately 500 'Shahed' drones and UAVs at once,” he stated.

According to Skibitsky, the Russians have significantly increased the production of unmanned aerial vehicles of various types.

“Earlier, in 2023 and early 2024, we knew only one Shahed, then Geranium-1, Geranium-2, and that was it. Today, the range of these unmanned aerial vehicles is so vast that it is not even always possible to count them on one hand: ‘Geranium-1’, ‘Geranium-2’, ‘Harpy’, ‘Gerbera’, ‘Parody’ and others,” said the general.

According to him, the types of drones currently in use include combat strikes, reconnaissance, decoys, which are drones but without a combat payload, and imitation targets.

“In fact, all of this is just overloading our air defense system. It’s very difficult to distinguish between a drone flying with a combat payload and one without,” he said.

In 2025, Russia aims to recruit 343,000 contract soldiers, with the majority designated to replenish battlefield losses, Skibitskyi added.

Priority battlefronts for Russian forces include Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kupiansk. Additionally, Moscow is planning new offensive operations in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Meanwhile, Skibitskyi noted that Russia has increased production of high-precision missiles by 1.2 times compared to last year, with some categories seeing an increase of up to 1.5 times.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, reinforced the warning, stating:

“Regarding HUR’s intelligence about Russia’s plans to launch at least 500 drones at Ukraine—I’ve previously reported that they are increasing UAV production, including both 'Shaheds' and decoy drones, as well as other types of UAVs.”

Kovalenko noted that Russia’s drone launch capacity is limited only by the number of trained UAV crews, adding:

“The plans to expand drone crews and launch capabilities are yet another sign that Russia has no real interest in peace.”

Earlier, Russian forces began using new, unidentified suicide drones in attacks on Ukraine.

In the past week, the city of Sumy has been hit five times by these drones, which are equipped with a powerful warhead. The strikes have targeted civilians in the streets, resulting in at least one death and three injuries.