Russia's Jet-Powered Drones Strain Kyiv's Air Defenses and Kill Civilians

Russia has escalated attacks on Kyiv with new jet-powered drones, causing civilian casualties and straining Ukrainian air defenses. The faster, harder-to-intercept weapons have shifted strikes into daylight hours, targeting residential and commercial areas. The jet drones, based on Iranian technology with Russian modifications, fly at roughly 370 mph, three times faster than older propeller models. Ukraine's interception rate has dropped significantly, forcing reliance on expensive missiles and revealing domestic supply shortages. Russian launches surged from 1,500 drones in July to 3,000 in August. Ukraine is developing countermeasures, with four domestic companies testing interceptor systems. Officials warn the threat will worsen during winter as Russia increases production, though jet engine costs and supply chain limits may constrain Moscow's manufacturing capacity.