Syrskyi: Over 70% of Shaheds near Kyiv downed by interceptor drones
Debris of a Russian Shahed-type attack UAV (Photo: Serhii Okuniev / NV)
Russian Shahed-type drones have begun flying at extremely low altitudes, but Ukraine’s Defense Forces are adapting to the new tactic, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said on March 3.
Syrskyi said projects aimed at strengthening anti-drone defenses and countering Russian strike UAVs remain under his direct supervision.
“The key role in this countermeasure is shifting to interceptor drones. For example, in Kyiv and the surrounding region in February, more than 70% of Shaheds were destroyed by such interceptor drones,” Syrskyi said following a meeting focused on short-range air defense.
He added that Ukrainian interceptor drones carried out approximately 6,300 sorties over the past month, destroying more than 1,500 Russian UAVs of various types.
“We are searching for and finding answers to the new tactic of deploying Shaheds at extremely low altitudes. We are working with manufacturers to improve the effectiveness of various interceptor drone models. We continue forming and training crews for these UAVs and equipping air defense units with unmanned systems,” Syrskyi said.
He noted that significant progress has been made over the past year in this area but stressed that efforts must be intensified and accelerated.
On March 2, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 large-scale combined attacks over the winter.
Russia combined launches of strike drones and various types of missiles in an effort to complicate the air situation, overload Ukraine’s air defense system and exhaust its resources, the Air Force said.
February marked a month of peak strain, according to the Air Force. On Feb. 3, Russia launched 71 missiles in a single strike — the highest number recorded in one attack during the winter. On Feb. 26, Moscow carried out a massive drone assault, deploying 420 UAVs in one operation.
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