Kathrine Frich
Despite the success, some drones broke through.
Despite the success, some drones broke through.
Zelensky confirms breakthrough
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine’s new interceptor drones shot down 150 Russian drones in a single night.
He described it as a major step in strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses.
“Of course, not everything is shot down yet, and we need to continue strengthening our air defense,” he said.
Russia’s biggest drone attack yet
The strike came during Russia’s largest drone assault so far, with 810 drones launched in one wave.
Over 400 of them were Shahed drones, a weapon that Moscow uses frequently in its nighttime barrages.
Despite the pressure, Ukraine managed to take down nearly a fifth of the incoming wave.
How interceptor drones work
Interceptor drones are high-speed unmanned systems designed to crash into enemy aircraft.
They must fly fast enough to catch targets like the Shahed, which can reach 115 mph.
Many interceptors are piloted in first-person view, with live images guiding the operator.
Built by local innovators
Ukraine’s interceptor program is highly decentralized.
A range of local companies and volunteers design and build the drones.
They are then sold or donated to the army, coordinated by the government. This grassroots approach has allowed production to scale up quickly.
Cheap defense against costly weapons
The cost difference is striking. Russia spends about $35,000 for each Shahed drone, while Ukrainian interceptors cost as little as $2,000 to $6,000.
This makes them one of the cheapest ways for Kyiv to neutralize Moscow’s mass attacks.
Funding secured for expansion
Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine has secured contracts and funding to mass-produce the interceptors.
He said that investment in this technology is “an absolute priority” and promised training for crews.
“The development of this interception technology… saves lives,” he stressed.
Civilian casualties in Kyiv
Despite the success, some drones broke through.
At least one struck Ukraine’s parliament building in Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities reported at least four deaths, including a child.
Russia tries to overwhelm defenses
Moscow is using both Shahed and Gerbera drones, the latter designed to mimic Shaheds and confuse air defenses.
Russia’s strategy is to launch hundreds of drones at once, overwhelming Ukraine’s missiles and machine-gun teams.
Interceptor drones offer a scalable answer to this threat.
The future of Ukraine’s air defense
Ukraine hopes interceptors will soon form a permanent layer of its defense.
Alongside missiles, jamming technology, and mobile fire groups, they could give Kyiv the resilience to withstand Russia’s heaviest strikes.
If successful, cardboard and plywood decoys may no longer be enough to trick Moscow’s attackers.
