How Ukraine deployed a vast arsenal of ‘suicide drones’ in attack on Moscow

Ukraine has launched its most extensive drone attack on Moscow to date, targeting the Russian capital with at least 91 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Russian officials confirmed that at least one person was killed in the strikes, which caused fires, struck civilian apartments, forced airports to close and caused disruption to dozens of flights.

Russia’s defence ministry reported that 337 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over its territory, including 126 over Kursk, where Russian forces have continued their efforts to surround Ukrainian troops.

Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, described the assault as the most significant drone strike on the capital to date. “Seventy-four UAVs were shot down on the approach to Moscow, and hundreds more were intercepted along various borders,” he said.

In response, flights were suspended at all four of Moscow’s airports. Air travel was also disrupted in Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod, east of the capital.

The attack came against the backdrop of a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Monday, while his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, is meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials on Tuesday.

Defence analyst and Nato historian Peter Caddick-Adams told The i Paper: “The timing is important as Ukraine positions itself before peace talks. It needs leverage to make an impression on the Russians. They targeted Moscow’s airports – even though it didn’t cause damage, flights have been cancelled, which will be irritating for Moscow.”

The rise of drone warfare

Drones have become a defining feature of the conflict, with Ukraine increasingly relying on UAVs to compensate for shortages in Western-supplied ammunition and artillery. The war has been described by military analysts as the world’s first large-scale “drone war.”

Kyiv has invested heavily in drone production, contracting more than 1.6 million UAVs in 2024 alone. Its fleet includes more than 100 models, ranging from reconnaissance drones to long-range strike vehicles capable of reaching targets over 1,300 miles away.

Many of the drones used in the latest attack were believed to be kamikaze UAVs – self-destructing aircraft designed to detonate on impact. Ukraine has rapidly expanded its arsenal of domestically produced drones, many of which are capable of bypassing Russian air defences and striking Moscow, more than 340 miles from the border.

Among Ukraine’s kamikaze drones is the Rubaka, a smaller UAV with a range of 350 kilometres and a 10-kilogramme explosive payload. Others include the Morok, Liutyi, and Peklo models, the latter capable of flying over 500 miles, while the United States has supplied Kyiv with Switchblade kamikaze drones.

Mr Caddick-Adams said: “The Ukrainians are the most effective manufacturers of drones. While Russia is buying its drones – like Shaheeds from Iran – Ukraine is developing most of its own.

“The drones work operationally to transport a payload or as long-range strategic drones. Suicide drones, like in this attack on Moscow, have integrated warheads inside them.

“They are attractive as they have no human life on board, are equipped with geolocation, but they are expensive, costing around £100,000.

“The issue is they rely on satellites, mainly [Elon] Musk’s Starlink, which can also use US intelligence to identify targets. That could be a future problem.”

Ukraine’s drone industry also remains dependent on Chinese-made components. Civilian drones such as the DJI Mavic have been repurposed for military use, with Ukraine’s forces modifying them for reconnaissance, bomb drops, and suicide missions.

Additionally, the Chinese-made Mugin-5 UAVs were deployed in August 2022 to target Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol.

The UK had previously pledged £325 million to bolster Ukraine’s drone capabilities, which contributed to the delivery of 10,000 British-made UAVs throughout 2024.

In May 2023, Britain reportedly supplied modified Banshee target drones to Ukraine, adapted to counter Russia’s Iranian-made Shahed UAVs. However, given the limitations on the UK allowing strikes deep inside Russian territory, experts say it is “highly unlikely” they would be used in a direct attack on Moscow.

Russia’s countermeasures

In response to Ukraine’s expanding drone capabilities, Russia has strengthened its air defences and electronic warfare systems. Moscow has deployed advanced jamming technology and multi-layered electronic defences to intercept UAVs before they reach critical targets.

The Kremlin has also ramped up its own drone production, deploying the Orion drone, which can carry missiles for strikes on Ukrainian ground forces.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to deploy Iranian-made Shahed drones, which are used in regular attacks on Ukrainian cities. Overnight, Ukraine’s air force reported that it had shot down 79 Shahed drones and an Iskander-M ballistic missile launched by Russia.

Mr Caddick-Adams added: “Of the Russian drones, 35 had no payload – they were decoys – but Ukraine still had to shoot them down, exhausting their air defences.”

“But the attack shows Moscow can’t defend itself against Ukraine. It demonstrates how Russia remains vulnerable and will send a strong message to Putin.”