Economic and Tactical Implications of Ukrainian Drones in Moscow Attacks
Recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow during the night of October 27 have sparked significant discussion among military analysts.
According to military expert Yuriy Kasyanov, the primary impact of this operation is not military in the conventional sense but rather economic and psychological.
It is known that Russian authorities reported the destruction of 40 targets in the Moscow region, 34 of which were aimed directly at the capital center.
However, evidence suggests that no drone or missile actually reached its intended target.
The minimum cost of a Ukrainian strike drone FP-1 with advanced navigation systems is approximately $80,000.
Considering an average price of around $100,000 per drone or missile used, the total cost for 40 intercepted targets could reach about $4 million, which is a substantial expenditure for such an operation.
At the same time, Russian expenses for air defense were considerably higher, including costs for ZSU-23-4 ‘Pantsir’ missile systems, which range from $20,000 to $40,000 per unit, plus costs for airport closures and associated delays.
According to Kasyanov, Russia’s cumulative economic losses from this attack could exceed $4.3 million, surpassing the expenses for Ukrainian drone operations.
He noted that although such attacks create tangible psychological pressure, modern Moscow air defense systems are highly sophisticated and difficult to bypass, even for cheaper Ukrainian drones.
Ukrainian military specialists have demonstrated that low-cost drones can establish tactical advantages, reducing overall attack costs while maintaining or increasing effectiveness.