У РФ новая тактика воздушного террора, а средств противодействия мало, – Флэш

**Russia adopts new “air terror” tactics, Ukrainian defence says**

*Kyiv, 2 September 2026* – According to a statement by presidential adviser Sergey Beskrestnov, who is known by the nickname “Flash,” Russian forces have shifted to a continuous “air terror” strategy against Ukraine, employing a mix of Shahed‑type loitering munitions, ballistic missiles and small cruise missiles. Beskrestnov told LIGA.net that the change in tactics is intended to increase pressure on the civilian population and disrupt economic activity.

> “Russia attacks during the day as an additional factor of terror, putting pressure on the population and businesses. The attacks hinder work; a city cannot function when alarms are constantly sounding. This is a conscious step,” Beskrestnov said.

He added that Russian analysts monitor Ukrainian media and social networks to gauge the impact of the attacks, and that the pattern is likely to continue.

### Shahed drones

Beskrestnov claimed that, after Ukraine reportedly shot down up to 98 % of conventional Shahed drones, Russia is now relying more heavily on the loitering munition. He estimated that Russia could produce between 35,000 and 40,000 Shahed drones annually – roughly 3,000 per month.

Ukraine, he said, is testing new interceptor drones designed to counter the Shahed threat, because ground‑based anti‑air artillery is largely ineffective against the small, fast‑moving targets. “We have four solutions,” he noted, referring to systems announced by Defence Minister Yevhen Hamara. “They are in the final stage of testing and field trials, but serial production has not yet been established.”

### Ballistic missiles

Beskrestnov identified Russian ballistic missiles as the “biggest challenge” for Ukraine, arguing that Russia’s production capacity exceeds the ability of Western partners to supply Ukraine with interceptors. He said Ukraine is developing its own counter‑measures, but that creating an effective ballistic‑missile defence system is more complex than fielding conventional air‑defence assets.

### Small cruise missiles

The adviser also warned of a new class of small cruise missiles, likened to the “Banderol” system, which can be launched from drones. He described them as “cheaper, faster (500–650 km/h), capable of low‑altitude flight and maneuvering without the need for online control,” and suggested they pose a greater threat than Shahed drones. Beskrestnov cited an attack on Odesa as an example of the weapon’s use and said Russian officials have ordered large quantities for the following year.

### Wider Russian strike pattern

UNIAN’s reporting, cited by the adviser, indicates that Russian forces are increasingly using combined missile‑drone strikes aimed at turning major Ukrainian cities into “dead zones.” According to Ukrainian officer Denys Yaroslavskyi, Russian plans include targeting bridges over the Dnipro River to sever connections between the left and right banks, as well as attacks on water‑treatment facilities to exacerbate civilian hardship.

### Assessment

Beskrestnov’s comments reflect ongoing concerns within Ukraine’s defence establishment about the evolving nature of Russian aerial attacks and the limited availability of counter‑measures. While Ukraine is reportedly advancing new interceptor technologies, the adviser declined to provide a timeline for their deployment, citing operational security.

No independent verification of the production figures for Shahed drones or “Banderol” missiles was provided in the interview. The statements represent the Ukrainian government’s assessment of the current threat environment.

Article and image source: unian.net