Russia’s Upgraded Geran Drones Are Targeting Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports

Technical Advances In Geran Drones

Over the past two years, Russia has invested heavily in upgrading its Geran fleet. The baseline Geran-2, which is based on the Iranian Shahed-136, remains the backbone of Russia’s long-range strike capabilities because of its relatively low cost, approximately 1,800 km range, and large production capacity. However, its maximum speed of approximately 200 km/h makes it vulnerable to mobile air-defense teams and to Ukraine’s growing fleet of interceptor drones. Russia has responded by introducing several jet-powered variants, including the Geran-3 and Geran-4, each designed to improve survivability against increasingly capable Ukrainian defenses.

The Geran-4 represents the most significant redesign in the Geran drone line. Unlike the Geran-3, which largely reused the Geran-2 airframe, the Geran-4 features a new, reinforced airframe specifically designed for sustained high-speed flight. The redesigned structure improves aerodynamic efficiency and withstands the higher loads associated with maneuvering. It is powered by a Chinese-made turbojet engine and can carry a 90 kg thermobaric warhead. These modifications allow the Geran-4 to reach speeds of up to 500 km/h, enabling it to outrun many of Ukraine’s standard interceptor drones.

Russia has also introduced the Seeker guidance package across portions of the Geran fleet. The system integrates electro-optical cameras, a mesh radio, and onboard machine vision for automatic target recognition and terminal guidance. An operator initially identifies the target, after which the onboard computer autonomously guides the drone during the final phase of flight. This reduces dependence on satellite navigation, improves resistance to electronic warfare, and enables attacks against discrete or moving targets such as ships, trains, and vehicles. Although the Seeker package is reportedly compatible with multiple Geran variants, it has most frequently been observed on the Geran-4.

Russian Geran Drone Strikes Against Ukrainian Black Sea Ports

Since early July, Russia has employed its upgraded Geran fleet to strike Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. The Russian Ministry of Defense has released several videos on its Telegram channel showing Geran Seeker drones striking port infrastructure, including fuel storage tanks, in Odesa, Chornomorsk, Pivdennyi, and Mykolaiv. These ports are well within range of drones launched from occupied Crimea, and the relatively short flight distance minimizes Ukrainian reaction time. The Ministry of Defense has also released several videos showing these drones striking vessels operating in the Black Sea near the ports, including bulk carriers, dry cargo ships reportedly transporting military equipment, and tugboats modified to deploy unmanned surface vessels.

The vessels entering and leaving these ports are particularly attractive targets because they are expensive, critical to the Ukrainian economy, and generally lack dedicated counter-drone protection. Earlier Geran variants relied primarily on pre-programmed GPS coordinates, making it challenging for them to hit a moving ship. The Seeker guidance package allows the drone to acquire and track a designated vessel during the terminal phase of flight. The Seeker system also allows the drones to strike critical parts of the ship more precisely, maximizing damage. Some Russian attacks have employed Gerbera drones outfitted with Seeker systems. Although these drones have only a 5 kg payload, they can still disable a vessel if they strike vulnerable components such as fuel systems or other critical equipment.

The videos released by the Russian Ministry of Defense also provide insight into Russian employment tactics. The strikes typically consist of small groups of two to four drones, including a mix of Geran-4s, Geran-2s, and Gerbera drones, all equipped with Seeker guidance systems. This combination appears intended to complicate Ukrainian defenses, and the small size of the strike packages may make them less likely to attract the attention of larger air-defense systems. The different performance characteristics of the drones creates an additional challenge. Ukrainian interceptor drones can engage the slower Geran-2s and Gerberas but are generally less effective against the much faster Geran-4, forcing defenders to prioritize among multiple threats. Additionally, the strike packages typically approach over the Black Sea, reducing their exposure to Ukrainian air defenses before entering the terminal phase of their attacks.

Broader Impacts Of Russia’s Geran Drone Strikes

Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports are having a broad economic impact. Greater Odesa handles the majority of Ukraine’s maritime exports, including grain, making it one of the country’s most important logistics hubs. In the first half of 2026, approximately two-thirds of Ukraine’s exports passed through Odesa and the surrounding ports, leaving the Ukrainian economy particularly vulnerable to disruptions in maritime traffic. The repeated strikes against port infrastructure and commercial vessels entering the port have reduced cargo throughput while also increasing the cost and risk of commercial shipping.

As demonstrated during the recent U.S.-Iran crisis, even a limited number of attacks can cause insurers to suspend war-risk coverage, forcing shipping companies to alter or suspend operations. A similar trend has emerged around Odesa. Ship traffic fell sharply in July amid intensified Russian attacks. Insurers suspended new war-risk policies, while major carriers, including Maersk and CMA CGM, halted calls at Ukrainian ports.

Russia’s upgraded Geran fleet has implications beyond the Black Sea ports. The addition of the Seeker guidance package enables the drones to engage moving targets, including vehicles and trains, that were previously difficult to attack using drones programmed only with fixed GPS coordinates. The improved terminal guidance also allows the drones to strike more precise aim points, increasing the effectiveness of even relatively small warheads. More broadly, these systems provide Russia with a low-cost precision strike capability that can be employed against a wider range of military and economic targets.

Ukraine is already starting to adapt to the new Russian Gerans. Ukraine is developing faster interceptor drones capable of engaging the jet-powered Geran-4s, as well as more advanced interceptors with a higher probability of hitting their targets. These interceptors will likely soon be fielded in larger numbers, providing better coverage for the Black Sea region. Meanwhile, Ukraine has already augmented its air defenses around Odesa and other ports, with videos showing aircraft, including an F-16 and a Yak-52, shooting down Geran-4s. The Russian Ministry of Defense has also noted that Ukraine has deployed unmanned surface vessels in the Black Sea to interfere with Russian drone operations. As these defenses become fully established, Ukraine will be in a better position to defend its Black Sea ports.

More broadly, the war has become a continuous competition between adaptation and counter-adaptation. Ukraine has used increasingly sophisticated long-range drones to degrade Russia’s oil industry, while Russia has responded with upgraded Geran variants designed to penetrate Ukrainian defenses and similarly strike economically significant targets. As both sides continue to refine their technologies and tactics, the long-range drone campaign will likely remain one of the war’s most consequential fronts.