New tactics in Russian shelling: what does their strategy hide?
Analysts highlight a new approach by Russian forces that raises serious questions about Ukraine’s defensive strategies.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in September, Russian troops accumulated a significant stockpile of cruise and ballistic missiles, along with various types of drones, to launch large-scale attacks on specific days.
Observations indicate that Russians are increasingly refraining from missile attacks for several days, focusing instead on drone strikes—possibly to weaken Ukraine’s air defense system.
They tend to conduct short series of strikes with more than ten missiles, while on average, every two weeks, they execute larger assaults with over forty missiles.
This pattern suggests a deliberate strategy—large, concentrated strikes interspersed with smaller drone attacks.
Simultaneously, Russia relies more on cruise missiles, conserving ballistic missiles primarily for targeted hits on specific locations, such as cities and energy infrastructure facilities.
Experts emphasize that objects not protected by the Patriot missile system are more vulnerable, increasing the likelihood of successful strikes.
The situation complicates as the enemy seeks to undermine Ukraine’s defenses by targeting critical infrastructure and conducting precision strikes, which has already led to power outages in regions like Chernihiv, where over 50,000 residents are currently without electricity.
Local authorities are negotiating with military officials to expand air defense systems to better counter these attacks.