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A Shahed 136 drone against the evening sky
Photo: IMAGO/Aleksandr Gusev / IMAGO/Pacific Press Agency
According to British intelligence experts, the Russian military has probably used up its stock of Iranian drones.
This is likely because there have been no reports of the use of small unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine since February 15, the Ministry of Defense said in London on Saturday.
However, between late January and early February, the Ukrainian military shot down at least 24 of the Shahed-136 disposable drones.
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Remains of a drone in Kharkiv.
Photo: STRINGER / REUTERS
"Russia will probably seek supplies," it said.
"Although the weapons do not have a good record of destroying intended targets, Russia likely sees them as useful in diverting Ukrainian air defenses from much more effective Russian cruise missiles."
The British Ministry of Defense has published daily information on the course of the war since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine a year ago, citing intelligence information.
In doing so, the British government wants to both counter the Russian portrayal and keep allies in line.
Moscow accuses London of a disinformation campaign.
Kamikazed drones from China
According to SPIEGEL information, Russia also intends to order kamikaze drones from China.
Accordingly, the Russian military and the Chinese drone manufacturer Xi'an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology negotiated about mass production.
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Anti-tank weapons, drones, artillery: These weapons characterize the war in UkraineBy Jörg Römer and Thore Schröder
Bingo is said to have agreed to produce, test and deliver 100 prototype ZT-180 drones to the Russian Defense Ministry by April.
According to military experts, each ZT-180 should be able to carry a warhead of 35 to 50 kilograms.
The design should be similar to that of the Iranian Shahed-136 drones, it is said.
The Russian army has used hundreds of them in its attacks in Ukraine.
The victims were often civilians, the Russians aimed at residential buildings, power plants, district heating systems.
mpz/dpa
