Ukraine ready to help partners build multilayer drone defense—Zelenskyy

The president argued that conventional air defense systems—ground- and air-launched anti-air missiles—are far too expensive to deal with waves of one-way attack UAVs.

“A Patriot, SAMP/T, or a similar system is not a weapon against kamikaze drones,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address. 

“These are expensive missiles designed primarily for ballistic targets. When Russia launches 500 to 800 drones a day, using such missiles against them is simply not a solution. Only a comprehensive, economically efficient approach will work.”

Zelenskyy noted that a single Patriot interceptor costs $2–$3 million, while a Shahed or Gerbera drone costs up to $100,000. He said Ukraine’s multilayer defense includes ground-based air-defense batteries, mobile fire groups, interceptor drones, fighter jets, helicopters, and several electronic warfare layers.

“This is the only way to counter mass [drone] attacks,” he added.

“No one has such systems today—only we and the Russians. We are ready to share this experience with our Polish and other European partners. It must be a joint effort so every country can protect its people.”