New threat to Kyiv: Russia sharply increases jet-powered drone attacks
Yurii Ihnat (photo: armyinform.com.ua)
Russia has significantly increased its use of jet-powered drones, with Kyiv remaining one of the main targets of the attacks, according to Yurii Ihnat, head of communications for the Ukrainian Air Force Command.
Jet-powered drones attack Kyiv
For several days in a row, Russia has been launching waves of jet-powered drones, focusing a significant portion of its attacks on the capital.
According to Yurii Ihnat, more than 1,500 UAVs were used over the past four days, around 800 of which were jet-powered.
At the same time, the overall drone interception rate remains high at around 88–90%. However, jet-powered UAVs are more difficult to intercept due to the characteristics of their flight.
Ihnat noted that Russia began actively increasing the number of such drones back in July. During that month, five times more of them were used than in June.
To counter jet-powered UAVs, Ukraine uses short-range surface-to-air missile systems and aircraft equipped with air-to-air missiles.
Why Russia has intensified its strikes
According to Ihnat, Russian attacks are aimed not only at exerting psychological pressure on residents of the capital. Each drone or missile has a specific target.
These may include logistics centers, postal terminals, critical infrastructure facilities, and other strategic sites.
The Air Force representative also said that Ukrainian specialists are finding markings among the wreckage of Shahed drones dated just a few weeks before the attacks. This may indicate a high rate of production and rapid deployment of new drones to launch positions.
Jet-powered Shaheds are significantly more expensive than conventional drones, but Russia continues to increase their use.
Kyiv and the Kyiv region are considering changing the curfew regime and introducing different air raid alerts depending on the nature of the threat. At the same time, authorities are working on new rules for transport and logistics during prolonged air raid alerts.
