The Armed Forces of Ukraine are using cheap decoy drones to distract Russian air defense systems before launching major strikes, but the tactic is failing, according to Russian security sources cited by news agency TASS.
Under the strategy, Ukrainian forces first deploy low-cost unmanned aircraft made from improvised materials. These decoy craft are designed to draw anti-aircraft fire and force defense batteries to expend their ammunition reserves before secondary waves of expensive drones with larger warheads target key facilities.
However, a representative from Russian security structures told the state news agency that the decoy tactic has proven unsuccessful against Russian air defense forces.
Air defense systems are military networks of radar and surface-to-air missiles built to detect, track, and destroy airborne threats. In modern conflict, decoy drones are often used to saturate radar displays, reveal enemy firing positions, and exhaust high-value interceptor missiles prior to a primary assault.
A portion of the drones used by Ukrainian forces in recent operations were built using basic improvised components rather than standard military-grade hardware, according to the source.
Decoy technology and long-range drones
The report comes amid ongoing developments in long-range unmanned aerial vehicles used across the region. In January, defense news portal Army Recognition reported that European technology company Destinus introduced the Ruta Block 2 rocket-drone, featuring a claimed operational range exceeding 450 kilometres.
Destinus, an aerospace company based in Europe that previously supplied Ukraine with original Ruta rocket-drones, develops high-speed unmanned systems and specialized flight technology.
Russia has also utilized simplified, low-cost drone designs during military engagements. In May 2025, military observer Vlad Shlepchenko of the Russian news outlet Tsargrad detailed the capabilities of the Russian Gerbera drone.
Shlepchenko said the Gerbera aircraft was constructed from basic materials, including plywood and polyethylene plastic bags containing fuel. Despite earning the nickname of a garbage drone due to its makeshift construction, the observer noted that the craft transformed into an effective weapon on the battlefield.
Official statements and agency reporting
TASS is a major state-owned news agency based in Moscow that frequently publishes security updates and statements from Russian military officials.
The security source quoted by TASS did not specify the exact dates or locations of the recent drone engagements, nor did they outline how many Ukrainian decoy drones had been intercepted during recent strikes.
