The Russian Armed Forces have been using decoy drones to overload Ukraine’s air defenses, according to a report by The National Interest.
Produced at low cost, these drones mimic more sophisticated munitions, forcing Ukraine’s defense systems to waste valuable resources trying to intercept them.
According to the report, about half of the drones in large-scale attacks act as “decoys,” replicating the behavior of Russian Geran attack drones. On radar, they are almost indistinguishable from real drones, forcing Ukrainian operators to choose between risking a real threat or spending expensive missiles on fake targets.
Previous reports, such as one from Forbes, already indicated that Ukraine faces equipment shortages in the face of advances by the Russian military, bolstered by precise strikes from attack drones.
The Russian tactic increases pressure on Ukrainian defenses, making the protection of the country’s airspace more complex.
Source: Sputnik Brasil | Photo: X @SputnikInt | This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team
🚨 RUSSIA OVERWHELMS UKRAINE WITH CHEAP AND EFFECTIVE DRONE SWARMS
Ukrainian intelligence is in panic mode as Russia is dramatically scaling up its drone warfare campaign.🧵 pic.twitter.com/8AEQQYTyMx
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) August 24, 2025
