Russian “Susanin” drone component may push Ukraine into nighttime blackouts. Roads and highways would go dark first, presidential adviser says
Ukraine may have to rethink its wartime blackouts if Russia begins mass use of drones and missiles carrying the “Susanin” optical-navigation module.
Ukrainian defense-technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov warns that Russia's use of the optical navigation module, Susanin, on Geran-5 drones and other weapons could lead to nighttime blackouts in Ukraine. Road and highway lighting would be the first target, according to Beskrestnov. Russia is continuously upgrading the weapons it sends against Ukrainian cities, with Geran-5 drones now equipped with machine vision that allows them to recognize and track targets independently during their final seconds of flight.
In 2022, Ukraine switched off its lights out of fear, but this time, if the Susanin module is used en masse by Russia, darkness may be a deliberate defense measure. The lighting of roads and highway stretches, where cars are particularly vulnerable to drone and missile attacks, is of particular concern. Despite Russia's rapid and frequent air war, Ukraine is still testing its own jet interceptors.
Russia's air strikes on Kyiv have cost the city around $12 million per attack on average in August. Ukraine's Economy Ministry projects that losses from Russian strikes could reach up to $10 billion this year.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
