ISW: Russian forces deploy autonomous target-identifying drones in military operations

The Russian aggressors began using a new version of the Lancet kamikaze drone, called "Izdeliye-53", which can identify targets autonomously.

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated this in a new report.

According to American analysts, the sources claimed that the drone allegedly has an automatic guidance system that can distinguish between types of targets and increase the chances of a successful strike.

It is reported that the occupiers are not yet using these drones on a large scale. However, Russian sources claim that the aggressors are currently testing drones for mass synchronized swarm strikes.

"The payload of the "Izdeliye-53" drones, which is reportedly between three and five kilograms, may not be sufficient to damage most critical military targets significantly, " US experts suggest.

It should be noted that on October 24 (ISW) stated in its report that the Russian troops began to carry out attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure with the new "Italmas" drones. Compared to the Iranian Shahed-131/136 drones, they are cheaper and lighter.

"The Russian command may believe that many attack drones will allow Russian forces to overcome Ukrainian air defenses," ISW summarized.

ISW Key Findings for October 28:

• Remnants of the Wagner Group appear to be fighting on the Avdiivkafront, subordinate to Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) controlled formations.
• Commander of the "Akhmat" Special Operation forces, Apty Alaudinov, confirmed that the Russian Guard recruits former Wagner fighters into Chechen "Akhmat" Special Operation units.
• Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations near Bakhmut and in the western Zaporizhzhia region on October 28.
• Russian forces conducted a series of missile strikes against the Dnipropetrovsk region on the night of October 27 to 28.
• Russian authorities are capitalizing on domestic ethnic tensions by increasing public coercion of Central Asian migrants into Russian military service, likely to appeal to Russian ultranationalists ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's expected presidential campaign announcement.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, in western Donetsk region, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia region border area, and western Zaporizhzhia region and advanced in some areas.
• A prominent Russian military blogger claimed that he heard Russian President Vladimir Putin express his decision to send Russian conscripts to serve in the Russian Border Service.
• Pro-Ukrainian actors reportedly conducted a cyber attack against Russian telecom operators in occupied Ukraine.

For reference:

It should be noted that near Avdiivka, the Russian army suffered one of the worst losses in 2023, and it is likely that the requests of the command again differ from the actual capabilities of the military.

According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, as of October 28, during the offensive on Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, the Russian invaders lost about 4,000 personnel.