Shoots down every third drone: Military official reveals effective weapon against Shaheds
Illustrative photo: Ukraine destroys Russian Shahed drones with interceptor drones (Getty Images)
The use of interceptor drones to counter Russian unmanned aerial vehicles is rapidly scaling up in Ukraine. So far, this weapon has been able to destroy every third Russian attack drone, stated Yurii Ihnat, Head of Communications of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Read also: Ukraine's battlefield lessons push NATO to massive drone investment
Main challenge in the sky
According to Ihnat, enemy drones remain the primary challenge for Ukraine’s air defense. This includes not only Shahed drones, but also cheaper analogues such as Gerbera and Italmas, which Russia launches in the hundreds to exhaust Ukraine’s defense system.
"Today, the interceptor drone direction is indeed scaling up. Every third enemy drone is now being shot down by an interceptor, and this is very good," the Air Force representative emphasized.
Comprehensive protection
Despite the success of interceptor drones, protecting the sky remains multi-layered. The priority for the Ukrainian Armed Forces is to build a layered air defense system combining various methods of engagement, including:
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mobile fire groups and short-range air defense systems;
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manned aviation;
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surface-to-air guided missiles, especially low-cost ones.
"Layered air defense, scaling up interceptors, and improving the aviation component are the main priorities today in protecting our skies," Ihnat concluded.
Interceptor drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces
In December last year, then–Defense Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal stated that Ukrainian forces received around 950 interceptor drones daily to counter enemy strike UAVs.
The deliveries are carried out by the Defense Procurement Agency of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. The agency has signed contracts with more than 10 manufacturers, and the procurement of anti-Shahed drones has been identified as a key priority for 2026.
