Ukraine Downs Russian Geran-5 Drones with New Interceptors as Production Expands ww3 map
Ukraine has released multiple videos demonstrating successful intercepts of Russian jet-powered Geran-5 drones using new interceptor drones, while Russian production of the drones is set to expand significantly, raising concerns tied to the ww3 map of potential reach.
Interceptor Drone Successes Against Jet-Powered Gerans
Over recent days Ukraine released videos showing three different interceptor drones downing Russian Geran-5 jet-powered drones, including models developed by the SBU, Wild Hornets' STING S, and WIY Drones' SPYS. [1] The first video was released by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, indicating why a response to the new type of Gerans is so important for Ukraine. [1] It was the work of Ukraine’s SBU security service. [1] The video shows interceptor drones of an unknown make taking off, with a delta-wing design. [1] They appear to have jet engines. [1] At the end, one such drone catches up with and strikes a Russian Geran-5. [1] “A new interceptor drone has been developed and has already been successfully deployed,” Zelensky wrote. [1] Later that day, he released a second video of another strike. [1] That same day, the Ukrainian company Wild Hornets published two similar videos. [1] It added another on Monday. [1] “Thanks to the crew’s skill — especially that of the pilot with the call sign ‘Babai’ from the 1,020th Air Defence Regiment — the target was neutralised. The warhead of this type weighs as much as 90 kg and has a range of 950 km,” the company said. [1] The company told the Militarnyi website that it had already managed to shoot down more than a dozen Russian jet-powered drones. [1] On Monday, one account released another video. [1] It shows a Geran-5 attempting to shoot down a SPYS interceptor drone. [1] It is manufactured by the Ukrainian company WIY Drones, although some reports describe it as a Ukrainian-German consortium. [1] Some specifications are already known. [1] According to its representatives, the drone can fly at 600 km/h, which is sufficient to match the current speeds of Russian jet-powered drones. [1] Ukraine manufactures the engine itself, which is an advantage over Russia, which must import jet engines for its drones from China, even as it seeks to launch domestic production. [1] “This is a major advantage for Ukraine — we have developed this industry to the point where we now manufacture both engines and electronics ourselves,” a company representative told Militarnyi in July. [1] Over the course of a few days, Ukraine has thus released videos of three types of interceptor drone that have demonstrated the ability to shoot down Russian jet-powered drones in combat conditions. [1] This is good news, but the key question will also be whether production can be scaled up to manufacture enough drones to counter this threat during the winter. [1]
Russian Geran Production and Threat Assessment
Russia produces around 3,000 jet-powered Gerans monthly; they make up roughly half of daily drones used to bombard Ukrainian cities, with only 60 percent shot down compared to over 90 percent of conventional drones. [1] When speaking of jet-powered Gerans, there are essentially two types: the Geran-4 and Geran-5. [1] Their specifications are similar, but their shapes differ. [1] While the Geran-4 still retains the delta-wing design of the Geran-2, the Geran-5 is essentially a six-metre cruise missile. [1] Documents show that Russia plans to expand a factory, potentially allowing it to produce 28,000 more Gerans. [1] The mass deployment of Russian jet-powered drones is one of the most negative developments for Ukraine in recent months. [1] Russia produces around 3,000 of them each month, and they currently make up roughly half of the drones Russia deploys to bombard Ukrainian cities every day. [1] And many of them do so successfully: Ukraine shoots down 60 percent of jet-powered Gerans, compared with more than 90 percent of conventional drones. [1] Speed is crucial: jet-powered drones fly at around 500 km/h. [1] To shoot them down, they must first be caught up with. [1] It appears that Ukraine is beginning to succeed. [1] The preceding months have shown that ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones are the main weapons Russia has prepared for winter. [1] “If Ukraine has found a solution — or solutions — and can scale them up over the next month or two, it could genuinely help defend against the approaching Russian winter campaign,” Financial Times journalist Christopher Miller wrote. [1] Map of the day details what part of Nato countries’ territory Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones could theoretically reach on the ww3 map. [1]
Ukrainian interceptor drone strikes Russian Geran-5 jet-powered drone during successful intercept. — Source: reliefweb
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Drone Infrastructure
Ukraine struck the Russian drone base at Tsymbulovo in the Oryol region using its own jet-powered drones and Neptune missiles to disrupt launches. [1] On Monday, it struck the Russian drone base at Tsymbulovo in the Oryol region. [1] It deployed its own jet-powered drones and Neptune missiles. [1] According to Ukrainian analyst Bohdan Myroshnykov, it is Russia’s largest and most secure launch site for jet-powered drones. [1] According to the Ukrainian KiberBorosno account, the attack struck bunkers and damaged hangars and launch sites. [1] The Russian Military Informant channel also wrote that Ukraine has recently been attacking Russian drone bases in an effort to stop the launch of drones it cannot intercept in the air. [1] “The infrastructure of these facilities is sufficiently fortified to withstand such attacks, however, while their above-ground parts, such as launch ramps, are relatively easy and cheap to restore,” it wrote. [1] Myroshnykov nevertheless believes this makes sense. [1] “It is impossible to destroy everything on the first or even the tenth attempt. Systematic strikes will, however, bring results. If there are no launches from
Ground Combat Overview
Ukrainian forces reported 248 combat clashes in the past day, with the highest intensity on the Pokrovsk front (33 attacks) and Kostiantynivka front (19 attacks), focused near Dobropillia. [4] The Russians are applying pressure along the entire line of contact. [4] A total of 248 combat clashes have occurred over the past day, most of them on the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka fronts. [4] On the North Slobozhanshchyna front, the Russians conducted five attacks near the settlements of Buniachyne, Mala Korchakivka and Yunakivka. [4] On the South Slobozhanshchyna front, Ukrainian units repelled 10 Russian attacks. [4] The Russians attempted to advance near the settlements of Starytsia, Kozacha Lopan, Lyman, Symynivka, Rybalchyne and Zarubynka. [4] On the Kupiansk front, the Russians conducted one attack near the village of Kivsharivka. [4] On the Lyman front, Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attempts to break through the defence, with the Russians conducting five attacks near the settlements of Stavky, Shyikivka, Novoselivka and Derylove. [4] On the Sloviansk front, the Russians conducted four assaults near the settlements of Ozerne, Mykolaivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka. [4] On the Kramatorsk front, the Russians conducted one attack towards the village of Fedorivka Druha. [4] On the Kostiantynivka front, 19 Russian attacks were recorded. [4] The Russians conducted assaults near the settlements of Kostiantynivka, Novoselivka, Illinavka, Dovha Balka, Rozkishne and Novopavlivka. [4] The highest number of assaults was recorded on the Pokrovsk front, where Ukrainian forces stopped 33 Russian attacks. [4] The Russians were active near the settlements of Bilytske, Serhiivka and Novopavlivka and conducted assaults towards Toretske, Sofiivka, Dobropillia, Novyi Donbas, Vilne, Hannivka, Krasnopodillia, Vodianske, Dorozhnie, Vasylivka and Myrne. [4] On the Oleksandrivka front, the Russians conducted one attack towards the village of Ternove. [4] On the Huliaipole front, the Russians conducted 14 attacks. [4] They attempted to advance near the settlements of Rizdvianka, Ternuvate and Kopani. [4] On the Orikhiv front, Ukrainian forces stopped two Russian attempts to advance towards the village of Pavlivka. [4] Over the past day, Ukraine's Air Force and Rocket Forces and Artillery struck one cluster of Russian personnel, three artillery systems and one command post. [4]
Ukrainian interceptor drone strikes Russian Geran-5 jet-powered drone during successful intercept. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Diplomatic Statements on Maritime Incidents
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that vessels linked to the United States have been targeted by Ukraine on multiple occasions in recent months. [2] US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said vessels linked to the United States have repeatedly been targeted by Ukraine in recent months and that this cannot be allowed to continue. [2] Speaking on Fox News on 22 September, Rubio said a so-called energy ceasefire in Ukraine, under which Russia would refrain from striking Ukrainian infrastructure and Ukraine would refrain from striking Russian infrastructure, is a good idea. [2] He also said that, over the past several months, "on a number of occasions American-linked ships… have been targeted… by Ukraine", as had oil shipments. [2] Rubio said the attacks had probably been not deliberate, but this is an issue that "needs to be addressed". [2] Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would meet in New York on 23 September. [2] The US side neither confirmed nor denied that a meeting had been agreed, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. [2]
Winter Energy Resilience Context
The extreme cold of the 2025-2026 winter and repeated strikes on energy infrastructure that caused prolonged outages serve as background for the importance of countering Geran drones ahead of the next winter campaign. [3] The 2025–2026 winter season in Ukraine was the coldest in 15 years, with temperatures frequently falling below -20°C. [3] The impact of these extreme conditions was compounded by repeated attacks on energy infrastructure, leaving households facing prolonged disruptions to electricity, heating, and water services for up to 16 hours per day. [3] In December alone, 61 strikes targeted energy an
What to watch next includes whether Ukraine can scale interceptor production in the next month or two and the outcome of the planned meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
