Russia struck Ukraine with thermobaric drones in recent attacks: what this means

Russian forces used "Shahed-136" kamikaze drones with thermobaric warheads in their attacks on Ukraine from October 26 to 29.

This information was provided by experts from the Explosives Research Laboratory at the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (KNDISE), as reported by UNN.

Specialists were dispatched to examine the impact sites following Russian attacks across Ukraine between October 26 and 29. Some fragments were collected for further study and analysis by experts.

Preliminary analysis at the sites identified parts and fragments of "Shahed-136" drones with thermobaric warheads. Chinese-made control boards for engines, Russian-made "Kometa" modules, engines, and other components were found.

Experts explained that the "Kometa" module is the only Russian technology that the occupiers have begun integrating into these drones.

"Instances of the "Kometa" being installed are becoming increasingly frequent in various munitions, such as the Kh-69 missile, Iskander-M, guided FAB bombs, "Orlan" reconnaissance drones and more. Analyses of previous components reveal that producing this Russian module requires foreign microelectronics," the KNDISE noted.

At the same time, experts caution that it’s too early to assess the effectiveness of these modifications. They noted that Russia currently uses "Shahed-136" drones primarily to destroy civilian infrastructure and terrorize the population. Flight paths for these drones are preprogrammed, although precision in their execution isn’t a critical factor for the enemy.

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