Why Shahed drones reach Ukraine's Zakarpattia? Air Force explains Russia’s tactics
Photo: Head of the Communications Directorate of the Ukrainian Air Force, Yurii Ihnat (Getty Images)
Head of the Communications Directorate of the Ukrainian Air Force, Yurii Ihnat, explained why Russian Shahed kamikaze drones have started reaching Zakarpattia and why they are becoming increasingly difficult to shoot down, according to Ihnat’s comments to Novyny.LIVE.
According to the Air Force spokesperson, attacks on Zakarpattia may have a demonstrative character.
He suggested that Russia is deliberately striking Ukraine’s most remote and one of the least affected regions.
Ihnat also stated that shooting down Russian UAVs has become significantly more difficult even when using helicopters or F-16 fighter jets.
"It (the drone) is not visible. Then it emerges from the cloud, and just as you lock onto it, it dives back into the cloud," he explained.
According to Ihnat, there is already confirmation that Shahed drones can maneuver during flight in response to threats.
"It has already been proven that Shaheds can maneuver when they detect some threat, that they have some sensors that allow them to maneuver," the Air Force representative noted.
He added that this particularly applies to interceptor drones, which Russia actively uses during attacks.
Largest attack on Zakarpattia
On May 13, Zakarpattia experienced the most massive attack since the start of the full-scale war. According to the head of the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration, Myroslav Biletskyi, explosions were heard in several communities across the region.
Due to the attack, border crossing points were temporarily closed, including those with Slovakia. As reported by State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko, this was the first time such security measures were implemented in Zakarpattia.
Hungary also reacted to the strikes in the region. The government of the new Prime Minister Péter Magyar condemned the attack and summoned the Russian ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
