Russia Attacked Odesa Region with New Shahed Modification with Optics

To attack the Odesa region, Russia used a new modification of the Shahed kamikaze drone with an installed optical unit.

The video was posted by X user Oleksandr Kovalenko.

During a detailed inspection of one of the downed drones, a camera was found in the nose section, structurally integrated into the body. It is a rotary stabilized unit that, in addition to a daytime camera, also had thermal imaging.

It is worth noting that the use of Shahed drones with optics by Russians in Ukraine is not a new phenomenon. Russian propaganda channels have previously claimed that the capabilities of these UAVs have been significantly improved, allowing them to selectively choose targets for attack.

At that time, the camera was installed in a more improvised way, primarily by screwing it to the fuselage of the drone, and the camera itself, given its appearance, was a regular camera for guarding the territory with a night mode.

Now, the Russians have integrated it inside the drone, which has improved aerodynamics and likely expanded the potential for use.

In September 2024, Russians attacked Ukraine with Shahed drones, and a Starlink terminal was found on one of the downed drones.