Plywood decoy can also be used as flying bomb; Zelenskyy calls for Europe air shield and blasts allies for ‘statements but lack of action’. What we know on day 1,296
The unprecedented drone confrontation in Poland’s airspace on Wednesday was conducted at least in part with Russia’s Gerbera UAVS, according to a Polish army official. The Gerbera is a cheap long-range drone that Ukrainian intelligence says is assembled in Yelabuga, Russia, from kits supplied by a Chinese manufacturer. It is made of materials like plywood and foam, and driven by a motor and propeller at the back, like the Shahed drones that Russia either buys from Iran or builds itself.
Ukrainian and western analysts say Russia uses the Gerbera as a decoy to saturate Ukraine’s air defences, but sometimes also as a flying bomb equipped with a small warhead, or for reconnaissance. China denies shipping wares to Russia for use against Ukraine, but such shipments have been regularly documented and China’s support for Vladimir Putin’s war has been called out by world leaders. Ukrainian intelligence also says smuggled electronic components from US and European manufacturers have been found in the Gerbera despite restrictions on their export to Russia.
