Russia fires jet-powered drone wave as Kyiv endures nine air alerts in a day
Russia launched 76 jet-powered Shahed-type drones at Ukraine on Aug. 18 (7 a.m.–6 p.m. local), with Ukrainian air defenses downing about 70; several drones reached ground targets and debris was reported in Kyiv’s Dniprovskyi district as nine air-raid alerts were issued in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast. Russia has expanded use of faster, higher-flying Geran-3/4/5 drones—especially Geran-5, which can reach 600 km/h, 950 km range and 90 kg warhead—and has built about 10 bases along its borders to launch these drones, signaling a broader long-range strike capability.
