As Russian war machines advance in eastern Ukraine, another attack is taking place far beyond the front line. Russia has stepped up nightly drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and civil infrastructure, and its strikes have intensified as it rapidly increases production of those weapons.

While many drones are not particularly high-speed or high-tech, they are cheap enough for the Kremlin to launch more than 700 in one night, to help the Kremlin overpower the Ukrainian air force and destroy civilian morale, experts say.

After obtaining Iranian designs for Shahed Attack Drones, Russia built its own giant factory to stir up thousands of weapons each month. Its evolving tactics force Ukraine to fight back with more expensive ammunition and innovation.

The rapid rise in drone strikes shows how war evolved to rely on these unmanned, self-driving cars.

Ukraine and Russia have been driven to improve drone capabilities to compensate for the deficiencies in air force capabilities, a dynamic that does not apply to all Western countries. However, experts say the US and its European NATO allies are actively working to improve drone and counter-drone operations to maintain advantages in future conflicts.

“NATO will probably use drones on a large scale, not on the same scale as Russia or Ukraine, because we have these large air forces that we invested in.

Taiwan is already considering developing a number of cheap attack drones, Tollest said. Non-state actors and drug cartels around the world are also increasingly dependent on drones. “These will pose a major challenge to unprepared troops around the world,” he added.

This is how Russia’s drone campaign operates and how Ukraine is working to fight back.

Russia is heading towards producing more than 6,000 Shahed drones each month, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency told CNN. And it is much cheaper to produce attack drones within Russia compared to the early days of the war, when Moscow was buying them from Tehran.

“In 2022, Russia paid an average of $200,000 for one such drone,” a Ukrainian defense source said. “In 2025, that number reached around $70,000,” said large-scale production at an Arab Gadrone factory in the Tatarstan region of Russia.

However, cost estimates vary widely. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a DC-based think tank, has found that Shahed-136 estimates range from $20,000 to $50,000 per drone. In comparison, a single surface-to-air missile interceptor can cost over $3 million.

This relatively low cost allows the Kremlin to bolster nightly drone attacks and carry out more frequent, large-scale attacks. In the early days of the war, major missile and drone salvos happened once a month. By mid-2025, they had on average occurring every eight days, according to a CSIS analysis.

For many civilians, the constant threat of drone attacks is horrifying.

Kyiv resident Bohdana Zhupanyna was seriously pregnant in July when her family’s apartment disappeared due to a Russian drone strike.

“Because such stress during nine months of pregnancy is extremely dangerous,” Zhupanyna, who then safely rescued the baby, told CNN shortly after the strike. “I lost a lot in this damn war. My father was killed by the hands of the Russians, my apartment was destroyed by the hands of the Russians, and my mother was almost killed by the hands of the Russians.”

And while Russia uses long-range drones to attack Ukrainian cities hundreds of miles from the frontline, it explains that civilians living in cities near Russia-controlled areas are plagued by daily FPV drone attacks. Residents in the Kherson area previously told CNN that FPV drone attacks had been reported on pedestrians, cars, buses and even ambulances, and the target appears to be out of reach.

Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilians despite substantial evidence of the opposition.

Yasir Atalan, a data fellow at CSIS, said the percentage of drones that hit targets has nearly doubled, with hit rates of nearly 20% since April being nearly 20% over 2024, with targets being under 10% in 2024. And in the analysis, the CSIS analyst wrote: “It doesn’t matter whether an individual Shahed hits the target. What’s important is the combined effects of terrorist weapons on civilians and the stress that it puts on air defense.”

Russia’s tactic is to “maintain constant pressure,” Atalan told CNN. “Their strategy is now increasingly focusing on this type of attrition.”

Ukraine also fought back with frontline FPV drones and used long-range drones to attack infrastructure and weapons facilities within Russia.

“For all technological developments, both parties are already looking for solutions. And because the innovation cycle is so fast, (a) the 2-3-week issue already shows (a) the adoption of technology breakthroughs.”

“So some of the approaches that may be effective right now may not be as effective in the coming months,” Stefanenko said.

Currently, both Ukraine and Russia are working on developing AI-powered drones that can not only create interceptor drones that can be deployed as a cheaper way to counter air attacks than launching missiles, according to ISW, but can also make their own decisions on the battlefield.

“There are many reports of Ukrainians testing some of these drones, but we haven’t seen them being deployed on a large scale,” Stepanenko said. “The development of interceptor drones will help unlock Ukrainian capabilities and help the Ukrainian forces maintain some of their (their) air defense missiles for missile strikes.”

Paris
–

The French man was taken into custody on suspicion of murder after four bodies were found on the Seine River in Paris earlier this month.

The suspect, described by prosecutors as “homeless man in his 20s,” was brought to court on Sunday, Kraiteuille’s Office said in a statement to CNN.

He is being investigated for “multiple number of murders” in regards to the four casualties, according to the prosecutor’s office.

On August 13, the bodies of four men were found in Paris municipality in Choisysyrouis in various disassembly conditions.

According to public broadcaster Frenchford, the alarm was raised after seeing passengers on the train floating in the water overlooking the river.

The body of one man, later identified as a 48-year-old French citizen, was recovered in a “relatively unharmed” state, the Kraiteuille prosecutor’s office said. An autopsy revealed injuries suggesting he was strangled. He was found wearing a T-shirt, but was naked from his waist.

The other bodies found were in “a very advanced state of decomposition,” which made it difficult to determine the cause of their death, prosecutors said.

The second body of the 21-year-old Algerian national showed injuries consistent with strangulation. He was reported missing by his relatives the week before his body was discovered.

The other two victims were identified as homeless men who regularly visited areas near where their bodies were found. Neither of these have been heard since late July. One of the men was a 21-year-old Algerian national and the other was a 26-year-old Tunisian national, the Cretir prosecutor’s office said.

According to prosecutors, investigators were unable to establish whether all four of them knew each other, but they were all linked to the area where their bodies were found.

The area is frequented by homeless people and is “known as a place for casual same-sex encounters,” the prosecutor said.

After reviewing CCTV footage and analysing phone data, investigators focused on the suspect, and “usually existed” in the area, prosecutors continued.

Before the body was found, he was arrested while in possession of documents belonging to one of the victims. He was also stopped by a police officer the day the body was first discovered, and a week later he was taken into custody.

Investigators were able to confirm the suspect’s relationship with the victim at one time with the loss of anapled at the same time,” the prosecutor’s office said.

The suspect refused to answer questions about the crime he was accused of, and gave a simple answer only when asked about something else, according to the Creteil Prosecutor’s office.

The crime investigation will continue, the office said.

After working as a teacher for 20 years, she longed for peace and quiet. Amelia Butler of the United States says buying an Italian bargain home gave it to her.

The 57-year-old now spends half of the year in Latronico, a rural village in the deep southern region of Basilicata, Italy, and the rest in her hometown of Philadelphia.

It loves the remoteness of an idyllic village surrounded by mountains, and ultimately says that it “relaxes and enjoys life and people.”

“I love the beauty of the country. I love walking a lot of villages and country roads. It’s very calm,” Butler, who currently works as a life and education consultant, tells CNN.

This former teacher bought an Italian bargain home two years ago

The former high school teacher in English and mathematics has decided to pursue his dream of moving abroad after becoming increasingly stressed at work and hoping for change.

“I was gaining weight, my blood pressure was high and I wanted to retire,” she said, adding that she had been thinking about leaving the US for several years.

Butler has several destinations in mind, looking at the property of various countries, including Costa Rica, the UK, Honduras and more. However, she loved visiting and there was one place she always returned to. It’s Italy.

When she learned of bargain housing plans in the Italian town of Latronico, authorities have been selling and renting low-cost properties since 2021 to revive the close village.

She was fascinated by the quiet location surrounded by mountains and affordable property prices.

“I wanted a place where I could be in and around nature,” Butler said. “I didn’t want to live in a big city like Rome.”

Butler checked out the online platform and was drawn to photos of properties in Latronico’s historic neighborhood.

“I knew it was mine,” Butler says, explaining the “unobstructed” view from the Shinni Valley home, with the Shinni River running.

“When I saw the photo of the view from the window, I literally shed tears in my eyes. It was so beautiful that I felt peaceful.”

She later bought a one-bedroom house. This also has a low-level storage area.

“I didn’t want anything that was a complete gut job where I had to start over everything. What I liked was that this property was basically ‘turnkey’. ”

The purchase price was originally 14,000 euros ($16,240), but Butler signed a contract with the owner, with a balcony overlooking the valleys and mountains in the area, overlooking the valleys and mountains.

The founder of the housing platform, Latronico’s local Vincenzo Castellano and his partner Mariang Guerra Tortorera were on hand to guide the purchasing process that took about three to four months.

“They handled all communications between the property owner and the notary, and took care of the collection and preparation of the documents needed to sign,” she says.

“It all became very simple and there was no need to travel to Italy.”

Butler says the process was “smooth,” but she sometimes asked herself questions, “Am I doing the right thing?… is this crazy?”

In May 2023, Butler headed to Latronico for the first time and brought her daughter, who lives in the United States with her.

Upon her arrival in town, Butler was instantly fascinated by the old cobblestone alleys and the quiet corners of the old district of Latronico.

“I love the way I have to go alleys, through quiet, alleys,” she says. “It was everything I wanted in a European home.”

According to Butler, the “soberizing” area had a healing effect on her, and she felt better after just a few days.

She was particularly struck by the tranquility of Latronico, realizing that she didn’t seem to have children around.

“We didn’t look at the kids for a few days and we were like, ‘What’s going on?’ I think they were at school the time we walked around,” Butler says.

The village has a population of about 4,000 people, which consists primarily of older or middle-aged residents.

“It was one of the adjustments because no matter where I go, I always look at people,” she says.

“It was a bit creepy at first, ‘Oh, where are you guys?’ I asked myself.

Butler’s arrival at Latronico was not noticed. She jokingly recalled “The Sathes” from residents, and when another customer walked in she overheard the shopkeeper saying, “Oh, the Americans just left.”

Butler loves the vibe of the village community, explaining that “welcome” residents go out for their morning coffee and hang out at Piazza together in the evening.

When it comes to food, she appreciates the freshness and lightness of the various dishes and ingredients, but she doesn’t like the popular Crusco Peppers, which can be eaten in a variety of ways with Basilicata.

“I had to adjust a bit to the food,” Butler says. “I made my own food and never had the dried peppers they (locals) had.

Butler is currently eating pasta more regularly than before, but you won’t get used to having it twice a day, as many locals do.

“I like the taste of Latronico pasta in the United States, where pasta in stores is processed and made to stay on shelves forever,” she says.

After extensive travel to countries including Portugal, Japan and Costa Rica in the past, Butler says that she was extremely adaptable and had no major “cultural shocks” or challenges in living in the deep south of Italy.

One of her biggest adjustments is the short opening hours of local stores.

“In (Philadelphia), our market is open from 10am to 11pm,” Butler says. “So whenever you need something from the store, there is a 24-hour place to get something.

“It was one of the big adjustments: knowing you can’t get up in the middle of the night and pick up a bottle of wine from the market.”

Butler has a digital nomadic visa that allows highly skilled non-EU remote workers to live and work in Italy.

Latronico’s peaceful atmosphere allowed her to concentrate without the regular distractions in Philadelphia, and she currently writes books about her experiences and works remotely.

She has not yet begun to learn Italian, but Butler can get it regardless and will be taking lessons in the future.

In the meantime, she was busy renovating her property, completing mainly aesthetic and functional tasks, including upgrading electrical systems, repainting walls, and adding laundry facilities.

The renovation, which includes giving a transformation to both the bathroom and kitchen, has cost a total of $18,000 so far. Butler is also working to reopen the space downstairs at the facility.

She is happy to divide her time between America and Italy for now, but she hopes to retire to Latronico completely in the future.

When in Italy, Butler spends much of his time walking, hiking, interacting with local people, visiting different parts of the country and other European destinations.

The annual trip from Philadelphia to Latronico takes about 24 hours, including a five-hour bus ride from Rome, but Butler sees this as another part of the slow life she has longed for.

“What touches me most is the simplicity of life at Latronico,” she says.

“In my professional life, I did it and did a lot of things. It’s great to be able to relax, enjoy life and people, just breathe,” she says. “The only thing I can change is that I’m doing it faster.”

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