Ukraine is building an echeloned system to intercept Shahed-type attack drones using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Oleksandr Syrsky said.
According to Syrsky, Russia has not abandoned its goal of seizing Ukrainian territory and continues attempts to plunge cities and villages into blackouts through massive air attacks.
“The enemy is taking advantage of weather conditions, modernizing its strike drones and changing tactics, including attacks at ultra-low altitudes,” he said on Telegram. “Accordingly, we are modernizing our countermeasures and adapting the system to achieve the necessary results.”
He stressed that the Defense Forces’ key task at this stage is to destroy Russia’s air attack assets, which are used on a daily basis. Real military results, Syrsky added, create the foundation for effective diplomacy.
A priority, as per Syrsky, remains strengthening the UAV interceptor direction, including increasing the number of interceptor drones, ground control stations and radars, as well as expanding and improving crew training.
“Our key task at this stage is to strengthen the UAV interceptor direction - to increase the number of relevant drones, ground stations and radars, and to expand both the volume and quality of crew training,” he said.
Within the framework of an echeloned air defense system, interception lines are already being created at a distance from major cities, he added.
While the use of drone interceptors and their effectiveness are gradually increasing, the pace of work must be accelerated, Syrsky said.
He also reported the formation of unmanned air defense divisions and the establishment of regular UAV interceptor units within training centers. To counter Shaheds, the military is also employing army and light aviation, with support from international partners.
In late October, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Shahed-type kamikaze drones have, in some cases, become a greater threat than ballistic missiles, prompting Ukraine to accelerate production of interceptor drones.
“Shaheds are now, in some places, more dangerous than ballistic missiles,” Zelensky said, adding that while Patriot systems can intercept ballistic missiles, countering mass drone attacks requires a broader range of tools.
To counter the threat, Ukraine is deploying interceptor drones, F-16 fighter jets and helicopters, though Zelensky said weather conditions affect their effectiveness. He added that more advanced interceptors with self-guidance systems are already being developed.
“In November, we’ll reach production of 500 to 800 interceptors per day,” Zelensky said, stressing the need to rapidly train operators and expand mobile fire groups protecting critical infrastructure.
In September, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Russia is already launching up to 800 drones in a single night during major attacks, forcing Ukraine to scale up its air defense capabilities.
According to Shmyhal, drone production itself is not the main challenge. The key obstacles lie in deploying ground control systems, radar and AI-powered targeting components.