{
  "id": 116985,
  "title": "Russia is 'betting primarily' on jet-powered Shahed drones, pivoting from older models: Ukraine's navy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/russia-is-betting-primarily-on-jet-powered-shahed-drones-pivoting",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-04T04:23:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-pivot-jet-powered-shahed-drone-older-ukraine-navy-2026-8"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukraine's navy spokesperson has revealed that Russia is shifting its focus towards jet-powered Shahed drones, abandoning its older models. This change in strategy has been prompted by Ukraine's effective interceptors which have been successful in countering Russia's conventional long-range attack drones. Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk of the Ukrainian navy stated that Russia is now \"betting primarily\" on jet-powered drones, while reducing the usage of conventional drones. The faster jet-powered drones, including the Geran-3, Geran-4, and the newly deployed Geran-5, have proven to be a significant challenge for Ukraine's interceptor drones, which typically fly at speeds of around 175 miles per hour. However, some manufacturers have managed to enhance the speed of these interceptor drones to around 230 miles per hour, matching the top speed of the Geran-3. Despite these advancements, the biggest hurdle for Ukraine remains countering Russia's ballistic missiles, for which the country has been desperately seeking advanced interceptor missiles, such as the Patriot missiles. The majority of Russia's Shahed drones are launched from its southern territories and occupied Crimea and typically follow a flight path over the Black Sea, where the Ukrainian navy is responsible for its defense.",
  "summary": "Russia is \"betting primarily\" on jet-powered drones while reducing the number of conventional drones used, said the navy spokesperson.",
  "key_points": [
    "Russia shifting focus to jet-powered Shahed drones",
    "Ukraine's navy spokesperson confirms strategy change",
    "Faster jet-powered drones challenge Ukraine's interceptors"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Fortune",
        "title": "Ukraine uses business principles to maximize Russia’s casualties and economic costs, potentially crushing its will to keep fighting, RAND says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/ukraine-uses-business-principles-to-maximize-russias-casualties-and",
        "published": "2026-08-03T19:05:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Turkey calls on Russia, Ukraine to ensure Black Sea safety after drone attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/turkey-calls-on-russia-ukraine-to-ensure-black-sea-safety-after-drone",
        "published": "2026-08-04T09:46:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}