In a significant blow to Russian forces in Ukraine, more than 1,000 soldiers and nearly a dozen tanks were lost in a single day, along with almost 100 airborne drones, according to an operational update from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces. This follows Moscow's launch of what has been described as the "largest drone strike" since the start of the 21-month-old war.

The casualties reported by Kyiv's military indicate that Russian troops lost 1,070 fighters and 11 tanks in the past 24 hours alone. These losses contribute to a larger figure, with a total of 324,830 soldiers and 5,513 tanks lost by Russia since the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022, as per Ukraine's tally.

Furthermore, the General Staff mentioned that Russia lost 93 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the recent strike, adding to the total number of UAVs lost, which now stands at 5,901.

While these tallies provided by Ukraine's military cannot be independently verified, Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment on the matter.

The deployment and development of unmanned technology, particularly drones, have played a dominant role in the ongoing conflict. Russia's use of cheap suicide drones, commonly referred to as "kamikaze" drones, has become notably prevalent. Among the well-known types used are the Iranian-designed Shahed loitering munitions, also known as Geran-1 and Geran-2.

According to Ukraine's military, on Saturday, Moscow launched a record number of Shahed drones into its territory, using 75 UAVs from two sites in Russia. Kyiv reported that the capital, Kyiv, was the primary target, but strikes were also recorded in at least six other regions. Initially, Ukraine claimed that 71 of the drones were destroyed by its air defenses. However, a revised tally increased the count to 74 UAVs.

In a subsequent attack, Russia launched another nine Shahed drones from the town of Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia's Krasnodar region, according to Ukraine's air force. The country's air defenses were able to intercept eight of these drones.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S. think tank, described the 75-vehicle attack as "the largest drone strike against Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion."

Col. Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine's air force, revealed that the Shahed drones used in the recent attack were modified versions of previously observed types. Notably, their black color and radar signal absorption capabilities made them more difficult to detect.

Russian military bloggers have also noted the use of black versions of these drones for the first time, suggesting that Ukraine's air defenses may face increased difficulty in detecting them, as reported by the ISW.

The latest developments highlight the escalating use of drone warfare and its impact on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to vie for dominance on the battlefield.