Russia has sharply increased the use of jet-powered Shahed drones against Ukraine, launching around 800 of them in just four days as Moscow intensifies its campaign of sustained aerial attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched nearly 1,500 drones of all types against Ukraine over the four-day period, with jet-powered Shaheds accounting for around 800.
“Russia’s tactic now is to exhaust Ukraine, to exhaust Ukrainians, primarily our people. There are constant drone attacks, with many jet-powered Shaheds,” Zelensky said.
Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, an adviser to the president and specialist in military communications and electronic warfare, said Russia has significantly increased production and is sending newly manufactured jet-powered Shaheds into combat almost immediately.
According to Beskrestnov, around 1,500 jet-powered Shaheds were launched against Ukraine last month. This month, the number has already exceeded 2,500.
“Jet-powered Shaheds are being launched against Ukraine practically straight from the factory,” he said.
Zelensky said jet-powered drones are particularly difficult to intercept because of their speed. Ukrainian combat aircraft currently carry much of the burden of countering them, while Ukraine is working to expand the use of specialised interceptor drones.
Four Ukrainian companies have developed interceptors designed for the task with one model showing particularly strong results.
The president called on the Defence Ministry and the military to accelerate deployment of the systems and said Ukraine should aim to achieve an interception rate of more than 90% against Russian drones this autumn.
