The Shahed-136 is particularly vexing for nations on the receiving end of its attacks. The drone poses significant defensive challenges, as both the Houthis out of Yemen and the Russians fighting in Ukraine have shown.

As a result of the attack on Jan. 6, two Russian anti-missile Pantsir-S1 systems and one OSA anti-aircraft vehicle were reportedly damaged or destroyed in the occupied part of Ukraine's southern Kherson Oblast.

Missile-toting drone boats blew up two Russian helicopters and damaged a third in a Black Sea skirmish. Why it matters: Ukrainian outlets said the shoot-downs were world firsts. Engagements like this — especially with video evidence — leave little room for drone warfare naysayers.

Ukraine has claimed that it’s successfully used uncrewed surface vessels (USV), better known as drone boats, to launch aerial drones against Russian targets for the first time. According to Ukrainian authorities,

Ukrainian troops used an FPV drone to strike the Russian Pole-21 electronic warfare (EW) system. Russian logistics were also disrupted, according to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU). "Special forces destroyed transport and electronic warfare equipment of the occupiers,