Russia has likely used a new jet-powered attack drone, the Geran-3, in a recent missile and drone strike on Kyiv, according to Ukrainian defense outlet Defense Express.

The development comes amid a sharp escalation in Moscow’s drone warfare. Russia is now deploying high-altitude, dive-bombing Shahed drones at scale—reportedly producing thousands monthly using Iranian designs and domestic assembly lines. These drones increasingly strike civilian infrastructure, overwhelming Ukrainian defenses and causing mounting casualties and destruction.

Whistling sounds and jet engine wreckage

Photos of the downed UAV show several key components, including a compact jet engine, indicating that the drone was likely the Geran-3 — a Russian variant of the Iranian Shahed-238. This model marks a significant upgrade over the slower Shahed-136 (Geran-2), boasting reported speeds of 550–600 km/h and a range of up to 2,500 km, compared to the Shahed-136’s 185 km/h.

Residents of Kyiv reported hearing a distinct whistling sound during the strike, consistent with a jet-powered drone and unlike the quieter propeller-driven models previously used.

Among the wreckage, investigators found an avionics panel nearly identical to those used in the Shahed-136 — responsible for flight programming, engine control, and onboard systems — suggesting a shared design lineage.

Though the drone was heavily fragmented, Defense Express says the evidence points to either an imported Shahed-238 or a Russian-produced version built with Iranian-sourced components.

Russian production and intelligence warnings

This is not the first suspected use of a jet-powered Shahed-type drone in Ukraine. A similar incident occurred in January 2024, but confirmation was inconclusive at the time.

In February 2025, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR) warned that Russia had begun domestic production of a jet-powered Shahed-style drone, designated Geran-3. It is believed to use a Tolou-10/13 jet engine, an Iranian-made, unlicensed copy of the Czech PBS TJ100.

Defense Express reports that analysis is still underway, but early findings strongly suggest that the drone used in the Kyiv attack was indeed the Geran-3.

On 25 May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy harshly condemned the overnight Russian attack that struck more than 10 regions of Ukraine. He accused the world of silence, which, he said, only encourages Putin to commit further crimes. 

During the 24-25 May night assault, Russia launched 14 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and deployed 250 Shahed drones and decoys.

“Today, rescue workers were active in over 30 Ukrainian towns and villages following the massive Russian strike,” Zelenskyy said.

Nearly 300 strike drones were launched by Russia overnight — most of them Shaheds. Almost 70 missiles of various types, including ballistic ones, were also used, the Ukrainian leader reported.

According to him, the targets included Kyiv and the surrounding region, as well as Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy oblasts.

“Residential buildings were destroyed and damaged. In Kyiv, university dormitories belonging to the faculty of history were hit. There were also strikes on industrial facilities. Tragically, there are fatalities, including children. My condolences,” he wrote on social media.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia is dragging out this war and continues killing every day.

“The world may go on a weekend, but the war goes on — regardless of weekdays or holidays. This cannot be ignored. America’s silence, the silence of others around the world, only emboldens Putin. He must be forced to think not about launching missiles, but about ending the war,” the Ukrainian president said.

He called for new sanctions against Russia and stressed that this brutality cannot be stopped without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership.

“Sanctions will absolutely help. Determination matters now—the determination of the US, of European countries, of all those in the world who seek peace,” he added. 

The Russian attack killed 12 people and injured more than 50 civilians.