Mikkel Christensen
A new tactic appears to be shaping Russia’s aerial strategy in Ukraine.
A new tactic appears to be shaping Russia’s aerial strategy in Ukraine. Reports suggest imitation drones are being used to confuse defenses during large-scale attacks.
The approach points to an evolving battlefield where volume and deception are becoming just as important as firepower.
Flooding the skies
According to Voennoedelo, citing Ukrainian Defense Ministry adviser Sergey Beskrestnov, Russian forces used Parodiya decoy drones during strikes on May 2. The claims were shared on Telegram and have not been independently verified.
He said dozens of the drones were launched alongside real attack systems, with the aim of overwhelming Ukraine’s air defenses and complicating interception.
Compared to earlier phases of the war, where waves of strike drones were used on their own, this marks a shift toward mixing real and imitation targets to stretch defensive systems.
Designed to confuse
Open-source data cited by Voennoedelo suggests the Parodiya drone is lightweight and built to mimic real strike drones in flight, though exact specifications remain unclear.
It is believed to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h and operate at similar altitudes as attack drones, allowing it to blend into incoming waves.
With a reported range of up to 600 kilometers, the decoys can travel long distances, increasing the likelihood that real drones slip through defenses.
Part of wider strikes
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the same day’s strikes targeted military-industrial sites, airfields and port infrastructure.
It also claimed attacks on facilities used to store and launch drones, though these statements could not be independently confirmed.
The combination of real and imitation drones suggests a broader effort to exhaust air defenses over time, rather than relying solely on individual strike success.
Sources: Voennoedelo, statements by Sergey Beskrestnov (Telegram), Russian Defense Ministry, open-source data
