Attack of the Kamikaze drones: Russia's Iranian wildcard in Ukraine war

The drones loiter and then hit a target precisely, reducing the risk to ground troops

As Russia loses ground in the northeast and south of Ukraine, it has switched to drones to strike tactical and civilian targets. An attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Monday was carried out by the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone, popularly dubbed the Kamikaze drone.

Here’s a look at what we know about the drones:

What are the Shahed-136 drones?

Also known as “loitering missiles” Shahed-136 assault drones are portable, small, and easy to launch. They can wait for some time in the vicinity of probable targets and strike only when a target is identified. The suicide drones then dive and