Not only "Shaheds": an expert reveals new tactics in Russian army's attacks

Since early August, the Russian army has been actively using cheap "Gerbera" drones, which lack warheads and are intended to confuse Ukrainian air defenses.

Communications, electronic warfare, and intelligence expert Serhiy Beskrestnov shared this information in an interview with "Glavcom". According to him, intelligence reports indicate that a factory in Yelabuga, Russia, is producing 600–800 drones per month.

"In September, around 1,400 drones were launched over Ukraine. In October, that number rose to nearly two thousand. However, this has not resulted in a proportional increase in strikes on our targets," he noted.

Beskrestnov explains that many of these drones are “decoys.” If the actual number of "Shahed" drones had tripled, there would have been noticeable consequences. Instead, the Russians have been launching “Gerbera” drones and recently introduced another type, the "Parodiya."

These drones are included in overall statistics, and mobile defense teams often cannot immediately distinguish them in the dark. Air defense systems also struggle to identify them precisely, as their design and reflective capabilities mimic more advanced drones.

These decoy drones are extremely low-cost. They are constructed from plywood and foam, lacking a conventional fuel tank. Instead, they carry only a small fuel pouch.

"But the decoys serve their purpose," Beskrestnov explained. "They are often counted among "disappeared from radar" drones. Unlike "Shaheds", these decoys have a limited range, often crashing in fields before reaching densely populated areas. They can be identified by sound, as they use different engines than "Shaheds", Beskrestnov says.

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