Russia is stockpiling weapons to intensify attacks on Ukraine, analysts say

Key Points:

• On Monday, Russia launched a daytime attack on Ukraine using 124 drones, damaging civilian buildings and injuring over 100 people, including strikes in Kyiv and Dnipro.
• The majority of drones used were new jet-powered models, which are faster and harder for Ukraine to intercept, with Ukraine's interception rate dropping to 57% for these drones compared to 90-95% for older models.
• Russia is stockpiling large numbers of these jet-powered drones, with estimates suggesting production of over 2,000 units monthly, and is conserving more expensive cruise and ballistic missiles for future intensified attacks.
• Ukraine faces challenges in countering these threats due to low supplies of American-made PAC-3 interceptors and unready defenses against jet-powered drones, raising concerns about vulnerability during the upcoming winter campaign.
• Analysts predict Russia’s winter offensive will focus on hitting critical civilian infrastructure such as electrical and heating systems, alongside attacks on local businesses and warehouses using a combination of turbojet drones and missiles.