Russia has changed its drone attack tactics; ISW warns of a new threat
Russia has begun combining massive nighttime drone attacks with daytime strikes to inflict greater harm on the civilian population. ISW analysts warn that constant raids could lower Ukrainians’ vigilance, noting that Iran previously employed similar tactics during its attacks on Israel.
This is reported with reference to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
As the ISW notes, Russia is employing a new tactic of massive attacks, which involves combining a large-scale nighttime strike with a similarly large-scale daytime attack,
Analysts reached this conclusion following a new massive drone attack on Ukraine, during which, from the evening of March 31 to the evening of April 1, 2026, Russia launched over 700 strike drones at Ukraine.
An infographic showing Russian massive attacks over the past year indicates that the strike on March 31–April 1 was also one of the largest, although it did not involve the use of missiles.
"Russia may seek to ensure that daytime strikes are more targeted at the civilian population and infrastructure, including public and open spaces, especially with the arrival of warmer weather, when more Ukrainians are out on the streets," the report states.
Analysts identify two main risks of the new tactic:
- "Endless" drone raids could desensitize Ukrainians to daytime strikes, increasing the risk of civilian casualties;
- Frequent daytime strikes force people to take cover, disrupting daily life and negatively impacting the economy.
American analysts also drew parallels between the actions of the Russians and those of their ally in the Middle East—Iran.
The ISW notes that Russia’s tactics partially mirror Iran’s approach.
"Russia’s new tactic of sustained night and daytime strikes mirrors aspects of how Iran is currently launching barrages of drones and missiles against Israel and the Persian Gulf," the report emphasizes.
The goal is similar: to force the civilian population to constantly seek shelter and keep the country in a state of high combat readiness.
On April 1, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed similar Iranian activity aimed at destabilizing the internal
Russian drone attacks are a response to our proposal for an Easter ceasefire — Zelenskyy.
As a reminder, the Russians attacked the Kyiv region with drones: there is damage.
Russia also attacked Ukraine with 164 drones; air defense forces destroyed 150 UAVs.
