Are interceptor drones Ukraine’s best option against Russia?

Are interceptor drones Ukraine’s best option against Russia?

Russian airstrikes on cities and towns across Ukraine are rapidly increasing in intensity. Between June 1 and June 20, Moscow launched 3,681 Shahed drones and fake drones, which serve to disorientate the Ukrainian air defense forces. A year ago, the average was at around 600 per month.

To counter these attacks, Ukraine is looking for unconventional solutions, such as the use of interceptor drones.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the ensuing war, Moscow has not only increased the production of drones — it has also modernized them and changed deployment tactics.

Current drones can maneuver and fly at high altitudes, which is why they cannot be reached by Ukrainian mobile air defense forces with machine guns.

“Lately, the Russian Federation has been sending drones at an altitude of about 2 kilometers,” Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force , told DW. “That’s why it’s becoming more and more difficult for our mobile units to intercept Shahed drones,” he added.