On the night of April 5, Russian forces launched a massive attack on Odesa and the Odesa region, utilizing various types of drones, including jet models. It is known that the occupiers continue to experiment with new means of attack, testing their effectiveness in the southern direction.
This is reported by Finway
Testing New Drones and Tactics
The exact modification of the jet drones used by Russia is currently being determined. It is preliminarily believed that during the raid, the aggressor was testing not only the drones themselves but also their usage tactics, seeking to overcome Ukrainian countermeasures, which have significantly improved interception effectiveness against enemy targets using interceptor drones recently.
It is worth noting that back in January 2024, the first reports emerged about the downing of Shahed-238 jet drones on Ukrainian territory. These UAVs were actively used during attacks throughout 2025; however, they have not yet become a widespread means of terror. Additionally, on January 11, the emergence of a new type of drone – Geran-5 – was recorded, which is characterized as a subsonic mini-missile.
“I cannot yet specify the exact modification of the jet drones, but it is most likely that the tactics and effectiveness of these means were being tested over Odesa, considering the increasing interception rates of enemy targets during drone raids by interceptor drones.”
Advantages and Limitations of New Drones
Jet drones with a glider design in the “flying wing” scheme have limited maneuverability, and increasing speed further reduces their ability to evade interception. This is why Russia developed a new modification – Geran-5, which is essentially a copy of the Iranian Karrar drone. Thus, Iranian technologies remain the foundation of Russian developments in the field of drones.
During the recent strike on Odesa and the region, regardless of which drone – Shahed-238 or Geran-5/Karrar – was used, the attack was yet another test of new techniques and tactics. The occupiers are attempting to break through the Ukrainian defense line by testing various approaches and seeking ways to reduce the effectiveness of interceptor drones.
Odesa continues to be not only a target for terrorist attacks from Russia but also a zone for experiments with the latest means of attack, tactical solutions, and drone modifications. At the same time, Ukrainian countermeasures are improving their own systems, making it more difficult for the enemy to achieve their objectives.