Russia intends to increase the production of Shahed-136 (Geran) strike drones to over 6,000 units per month, CNN reports, citing Ukrainian intelligence sources.
According to intelligence, the cost of one Shahed for the Russian Federation has decreased from approximately $200 thousand in 2022 to about $70 thousand in 2025. This was made possible by the launch of local large-scale production at the Alabuga plant in Tatarstan. At the same time, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates the cost of this Russian drone at $20-50 thousand per unit.
CNN notes that compared to the cost of a surface-to-air missile interceptor, which can exceed $3 million, Shahed drones are several times cheaper. This allows Russia to intensify night attacks and carry out large-scale strikes more often. If at the beginning of the war such strikes occurred about once a month, now, according to CSIS estimates, the interval between them has decreased to eight days.
Experts emphasize that for Russia it is not critical whether each drone hits the target. The main goal is to create psychological pressure on the civilian population and overload the Ukrainian air defense system.
In addition to mass-producing Shaheds, Russia also frequently upgrades them. For example, it recently became known that these drones are equipped with video cameras, and the Russians have also learned to use Shaheds to mine areas with anti-tank mines.