Kamikaze drones have showered down on Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv
‘Kamikaze’ drones were launched by Russian forces into Kyiv, killing at least four people and injuring many more.
The drones have destroyed civilian areas, far from the front lines of the war because of their ability to hover and attack unnoticed.
The ‘kamikaze’ drones appear to be Iranian-made and are believed to include an Iranian-supplied weapon called the Shahed-136.
There are calls for urgent sanctions against Iran, however, Iran denies involvement.
What are ‘kamikaze’ drones?
Kamikaze drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are designed to crash into a target, causing damage or destruction.
Kamikaze drones have been used in military conflicts in recent years, and have become an increasingly popular weapon due to their low cost and ability to cause significant damage.
Credit: Bloomberg
Kamikaze drones offer a number of advantages over traditional weapons systems.
They are relatively cheap and easy to produce, and can cause significant damage to targets. Kamikaze drones are also difficult to intercept, making them a difficult target for enemy defences.
Kamikaze drones are typically outfitted with explosives, and are often remote-controlled by operators who guide them towards their targets.
An engine of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), what Ukrainian authorities consider to be an Iranian made suicide drone Shahed-136, are seen found after Russian strike on fuel storage facilities, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine October 6, 2022. REUTERS/Vitalii Hnidyi
While kamikaze drones can be used for a variety of purposes, they are most commonly used as a form of air-to-ground attack.
The drones are often described as a “loitering munition” because they hover in a designated area until a target is identified. The drones are small in size, disposable and are not easily detected in the air defence zone.
They also travel long-distances, making them hard to trace back to a source. Unlike traditional war drones, ‘kamikaze’s’ do not return to an operator, they’re purely designed to explode and detonate.
The ‘kamikaze’ drones used in the recent attacks on Kyiv appear to be Iranian-made and are believed to include an Iranian-supplied weapon called the Shahed-136.
The Shahed component of the drones means they’re capable of carrying a large amount of weight, approximately 50kg, which is a lot more than traditional war drones.
The Ukrainian military and U.S. intelligence community insists Russia is using drones made by Iran.
Kamikaze drone
Earlier in the year, U.S. officials claimed Russia had purchased drones and was equipping its forces on how to operate them. Ukraine President claimed Russia bought over 2000 of the Iranian-made weapons.
There are calls for urgent sanctions against Iran, however, Iran denies any involvement.
“Iran has repeatedly declared that it is not a party in the war between Russia and Ukraine and has not sent any weapons to either side.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Spokesman Nasser Kanaani
However, Ukraine consistently claims it has recently shot down the drones in its country. They claim Russia has renamed the Shaheds to “Geran.”
Previously used in conflict
Kamikaze drones have been used in a number of military conflicts in recent years.
Kamikaze drones have been used extensively in the Syrian civil war, where they have been employed by both government forces and rebel groups.
When Japan was losing the war it used kamikaze pilots to attack the allies. It made zero strategic impact and Japan still lost.
Now Russia is using kamikaze drones to terrorise ordinary Ukrainians in their homes.
They were first used in Syria, and have since been employed in the Israel-Gaza conflict, the war in Yemen, and other conflicts.
Kamikaze drones have also been used by terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State (IS) group, to carry out attacks.
“What you’re seeing here is a collectivisation of the bully club, or the autocrat club. Xi Jinping & Vladimir Putin… Iran is part of this club.“
misha zelinsky, war correspondent
More air defence systems
Ukraine also uses kamikaze drones. They use ‘RAM II,’ developed through crowd funding in Ukraine. While the U.S. has been supplying numerous forms of aerial defence to the war-torn nation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pleading for more.
Ukrainian officials are pleading with their Western allies to supply further air defence systems to help destroy the drones before they make contact.
The recent kamikaze attacks have intensified the need for further support in the air to detect and shoot down the drones.
The systems required to defend against kamikaze drones are more complex in comparison to traditional drones and missile.
Trump confirms U.S. strikes on Iran as Israel targets top Iranian leaders
Trump confirms U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites amid rising tensions; Israel intensifies operations, Iran vows to continue enrichment, and Houthi militants threaten U.S. shipping.
Trump confirms U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites amid rising tensions; Israel intensifies operations, Iran vows to continue enrichment, and Houthi militants threaten U.S. shipping.
President Trump has confirmed that U.S. forces successfully struck three nuclear facilities in Iran – Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan – with all aircraft safely exiting Iranian airspace. The mission, involving B-2 stealth bombers, comes amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its military operations, killing three top Iranian military leaders and striking a major nuclear facility in Isfahan. The Israeli chief of staff warned the operation may lead to a prolonged and complex war.
Iran responded by vowing to continue uranium enrichment and said talks with the U.S. are off the table unless Israel halts its attacks. In a parallel move, Houthi militants threatened U.S. and commercial ships in the Red Sea if American strikes continue in support of Israel.
Adding to the volatility, an Iranian drone hit northern Israel, with the IDF confirming the incident—though no casualties were reported. The U.S. State Department is now organising flights to evacuate Americans from Israel.
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Trump announces successful U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, while Israel intensifies its military campaign against Iranian leadership.
In Short:
President Trump announced U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, confirming all aircraft left Iranian airspace after the operation. Meanwhile, Israel ramped up its military actions against Iran, leading to warnings from Iranian officials and Houthi militants regarding potential escalations.
President Trump announced on Saturday that the United States had successfully completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
This military action was preceded by the deployment of stealth B-2 bombers from Missouri, capable of carrying the GBU-57 bunker buster, a powerful weapon considered effective against the Fordow uranium-enrichment facility.
Trump had earlier indicated to senior aides that he approved attack plans for Iran, awaiting Tehran’s decision on its nuclear program.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military intensified its operations against Iranian military leaders and nuclear sites, announcing the elimination of three senior Iranian figures and strikes on the Isfahan facility. Israel’s military chief warned of a potentially prolonged conflict, describing it as the nation’s most complex military undertaking.
In response, Iranian officials stated their refusal to halt uranium enrichment and indicated that negotiations with the U.S. would only occur if Israel ceased its attacks.
Additionally, the U.S. State Department announced the initiation of flights to facilitate the return of American citizens from Israel.
Houthi militants also issued a warning to target U.S. and commercial vessels in the Red Sea should American attacks in support of Israel commence.
Amidst this, an Iranian drone attack recently damaged a building in northern Israel, marking an acknowledged drone strike by the Israeli military during the ongoing conflict. No casualties were reported from the incident.