Why Russia is now launching daytime «Shahed» strikes: Expert breaks down new enemy tactics and goals
An expert explained why night attacks are becoming ineffective and what new targets the enemy has chosen.
Russian "Shaheds"
Russia is increasingly launching «Shahed"-type attack drones during daylight hours. This shift in strategy is driven by both the technical improvements in Ukraine’s air defenses and by new enemy objectives aimed at exhausting Ukraine’s economy.
This was reported by military expert and founder of the «Reactive Post» charitable organization, Pavlo Narozhnyi, on Radio NV.
Previously, the occupiers relied on night attacks, counting on drones to remain unseen in darkness. However, Ukrainian defenders, particularly mobile fire units, have learned to counter the enemy effectively using modern equipment. Narozhny says that visual targeting is now a thing of the past.
«A significant portion of shoot-downs, both now and in the past, have been carried out by mobile fire groups using visual targeting. However, that is long in the past because they now typically use thermal imaging sights. They can see these „Shaheds“ clearly both day and night. Therefore, for the Russians, there has been less and less sense in launching drones at night lately,» the expert reported.
One theory suggests the enemy is testing manually controlled drones. Successful targeting requires a high-quality image, which is far easier to achieve in daylight.
«The first scenario is that „Shahed“ drones are being tested in manual control mode, where an operator must see the target. In theory, a night targeting camera could be used, but it is more likely easier for the operator to use daytime visuals, ” Narozhny said.
Daytime attacks have another, less obvious but dangerous goal — economic pressure. Prolonged air raid alerts during working hours force large industrial facilities and hazardous operations to halt to protect staff and equipment.
According to the expert, if a Russian drone enters the vicinity of a facility, operations stop, immediately impacting Ukraine’s economy. Even small shops are often forced to pause their work.
Ukrainian railways have become a distinct target for Russian forces, who understand that railway stability impacts both the economy and military logistics.
«Destroying a train — meaning a locomotive — strikes the economy. These are high-cost assets with long production times. They cannot simply be bought quickly, even with money, and the enemy fully understands this, ” Narozhny said.