Sanctions Impact Russian Strike Drones, Causing Technical Failures — The Washington Post

Western sanctions are affecting the performance of Russian strike drones, leading to technical failures in the Iranian-made Shahed-136 UAVs, which Russia assembles and rebrands as "Geran-2," according to The Washington Post.

Sources reported that these issues, observed this year, include drones losing control during sharp turns. Some crash outright, while others stabilize but become easy targets for Ukrainian air defenses.

Experts at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) attribute the problem to the replacement of servo motors—essential components for regulating a drone's movements—with lower-quality alternatives. The change was likely driven by sanctions limiting Russia's access to advanced components.