Ukraine must create its own anti-drone dome, defense minister says
Photo: Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The current task of Ukraine’s military leadership is to create its own anti-drone shield, according to Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Fedorov said he has approved the appointment of one of the most effective commanders, Pavlo "Lazar" Yelizarov, as deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force. He will be responsible for developing short-range air defense and drone interception.
"Our task is to build an anti-drone dome over Ukraine — a system that does not respond after the fact, but destroys the threat while it is still approaching. This requires people who have already proven their effectiveness in modern warfare. Lazar is one of them," Fedorov said.
He clarified that the goal is to build a system that operates not in isolated locations, but across the entire country.
The minister emphasized that no other country in the world has as much experience in countering drones as Ukraine. Every day and night, Ukrainian forces shoot down hundreds of enemy drones.
In 2025 alone, the Russian army launched up to 100,000 Shahed drones and other types of unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukraine.
"The world was not prepared for this type of war. But we are forced to respond quickly, systematically, and technologically. That is why, on the President’s instruction, we are changing our approach to protecting the skies. Transforming such a system does not happen in a few days, but we must start today to eventually resolve this issue," the Defense Minister stressed.
Russia is ready for a massive strike
Today, January 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces have prepared for a new massive strike.
He urged Ukrainians to pay attention to every air raid alert, noting that the enemy is waiting for the right moment to attack.
