Russia has changed its drone tactics by starting to drop cluster munitions from drones. During the latest attack, each drone carried three containers of dangerous munitions, which are scattered at random along the route.
How the new tactics of Russian drones work
During the latest attack, drones equipped with three containers of cluster munitions were seen being used. Source. reports that these drones drop bombs randomly, without targeting, just along the flight route.
The insidiousness of this tactic lies in the unpredictable location of submunitions. They can end up in densely populated areas of large cities or in agricultural fields, posing a long-term danger to civilians and farmers.
Threat to civilians and infrastructure
Cassette charges that are discharged from drones, Submunitions are particularly dangerous because of their unpredictability. Submunitions can remain unexploded, effectively turning areas into minefields. This complicates the work of rescuers and sappers, and puts the lives of civilians, including children, at risk.
Residential areas and agricultural land are becoming risk zones. For farmers, this means loss of access to crops and a threat to the harvest, and for citizens, it means danger when moving around the city and being in yards or on playgrounds.
Reaction of the public and experts
Mine safety experts are already urging residents to be as careful as possible and not to approach suspicious objects. Information is being actively disseminated on what cluster munitions look like and what to do if they are found.
Civil society organisations and local authorities have stepped up information campaigns, calling for suspicious items to be reported to the sappers. In some regions, additional patrols and mobile teams have already been deployed to quickly eliminate hazardous remnants.
Why it matters
New Russia's tactics The use of cluster munitions from drones significantly complicates the protection of civilians and infrastructure. The danger to people and businesses can persist long after an attack, requiring additional efforts to clear mines and inform citizens. The situation underscores the need to strengthen mine action and international condemnation of such methods of warfare.
