Explosions and fires were reported in the Volgograd region early this morning between approximately 2:00 AM and 2:40 AM UTC, according to local residents and eyewitness accounts. At least five to seven explosions were heard in the northern and southern parts of Volgograd city, with fires detected on the outskirts of the city resulting from UAV debris. The incidents follow a reported UAV attack that caused power outages in three settlements and two large fires of dry vegetation in the Volgograd region, as announced by the region's governor Andrei Bocharov between 4:35 AM and 5:35 AM UTC yesterday. Repair teams were working on the power lines, with no initial reports of building damage or casualties. In parallel, a US-based company, Epirus, successfully demonstrated its LEONIDAS anti-swarm technology, disabling 49 drones in a single shot. The system, which utilizes gallium-nitride semiconductors, had previously showcased its ability to disable a total of 61 drones from multiple directions in the prior month. This development is seen as potentially balancing the cost asymmetry in drone warfare, favoring attackers. Analysis of the conflict in Ukraine suggests that while high-technology counter-drone solutions are being developed, older, kinetic systems like the German GEPARD and vintage Bofors anti-aircraft guns, updated and improved, have proven highly effective. These systems rely on fundamental ballistics and mechanical reliability, achieving consistent drone kills at a reasonable cost without complex algorithms or target libraries. Even a technical vehicle with a heavy-calibre machine gun can provide immediate, scalable counter-drone capability.
