Russia Dramatically Scales Up Jet-Powered Attack Drone Strikes on Ukraine
Russia has sharply increased its use of jet-powered attack drones against Ukraine, launching approximately 1,400 high-speed jet drones since the start of 2026 — compared to just around 180 recorded throughout all of 2025. The escalation involves the Geran-3, Geran-4, and Geran-5 variants, with the largest, the Geran-5, measuring 6.5 metres in length and powered by a TeleFly TF-Tj2000A turbojet engine.
Highlights
- Russia launched approximately 1,400 jet-powered attack drones against Ukraine from early 2026, versus roughly 180 in all of 2025 — nearly an eightfold increase.
- The Geran-3 (based on Iran's Shahed-238) cruises at 350–550 km/h with a reported maximum range of 1,500 kilometres.
- The Geran-4 carries a 50 kg warhead payload and has a reported maximum range of 850 kilometres.
- The Geran-5, the largest variant at 6.5 metres, is powered by a TeleFly TF-Tj2000A turbojet engine — a significant upgrade over propeller-driven predecessors.
- Colonel Alexander Zaruba of Ukraine's National Research Institute for Weapons Testing presented the data, warning that the escalation intensifies pressure on Ukrainian air defences.
Russia is significantly expanding its use of jet-powered attack drones against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian defence outlet Militarnyi. Colonel Alexander Zaruba, a senior researcher at Ukraine's National Research Institute for the Testing and Certification of Weapons and Military Equipment, made the assessment in a recent briefing.
Launch Numbers Surge
Citing official Ukrainian data, Zaruba noted that Russian forces have launched approximately 1,400 high-speed jet-powered drones since the beginning of 2026 — a dramatic rise compared to roughly 180 launches recorded across the entirety of 2025.
He added that Russian forces are deploying the Geran-3, Geran-4, and Geran-5 jet-powered UAVs with increasing frequency.
Variant Breakdown
Geran-3 (Shahed-238)
The Geran-3 received particular attention in the briefing. Designated "Geran-3" within Russian service, the drone is based on the Iranian-developed Shahed-238. It is reported to cruise at 350–550 km/h with a maximum range of up to 1,500 kilometres.
Geran-4
Russian forces are also actively deploying the Geran-4, which can carry a 50 kg warhead payload and is reported to have a maximum range of 850 kilometres.
Geran-5
The largest variant in the series is the Geran-5. According to Zaruba, the drone measures 6.5 metres in length and is equipped with a TeleFly TF-Tj2000A turbojet engine — a significant capability upgrade over earlier propeller-driven versions.
Strategic Implications
Jet-powered drones offer substantially higher speeds and longer ranges than conventional propeller-driven UAVs, posing greater interception challenges for Ukraine's air defence systems. The rapid escalation in Russian deployments underscores the evolving role of drones on the modern battlefield and highlights the mounting pressure Ukraine faces in countering high-speed aerial threats.
Source: Militarnyi
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