How Iranian Kamikaze drones could help turn the tide of war in Russia's favour

In 1944, residents of southeast England learnt to dread the stuttering growl of primitive pulse jet engines – the sound of the V1 flying bombs.

Today Ukrainians are becoming familiar with the sound of a new doodlebug – the Iranian Shahed-136 Kamikaze drone.

The distinctive whine of their cheap petrol engines has already seen it dubbed “the moped” by Ukrainian front line soldiers.

“All night and all morning, the enemy terrorises the civilian population. Kamikaze drones and missiles are attacking all of Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app.

Russian forces have apparently obtained scores of the cheap, plentiful and potentially deadly Iranian-made drones. Like the Nazis in the Second World War, the Russians may hope these new weapons could turn the tide of the war in Russia’s favour.

Made by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Company, the Shahed-136 entered service last year. With a range of up to 1,500 miles and carrying a warhead of 35 kilograms, the drones are designed to loiter overhead before striking targets. Ukrainian forces say they come in both Kamikaze and munition-launching variants.

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