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Ukraine races to develop interceptors as Russian drones and missiles ravage the country
🇪🇬 Egypt /Conflict & Security

Ukraine races to develop interceptors as Russian drones and missiles ravage the country

From Egypt Independent · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Ukraine is developing new interceptors to counter Russian jet-powered Shahed drones, which are faster and harder to stop than earlier models.
  • President Volodymyr Zelensky said nearly 1,500 drones were launched at Ukraine over four days, while Ukrainian officials reported a sharp increase in jet-powered drone attacks.
  • Russian strikes have expanded beyond Kyiv and energy infrastructure to warehouses, fuel stations, postal facilities and factories, while officials warn that air defenses and civilian morale are under pressure.

Ukraine is trying to build a new answer to Russian jet-powered drones that now arrive faster, in larger numbers and against a widening range of targets.

The Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones, known as jet-powered Shaheds, are reportedly three times faster than the original Shaheds Russia obtained from Iran. Alongside ballistic weapons and a new cruise missile, they have caused extensive damage in and around Kyiv. Russian attacks have also hit warehouses, gas stations, postal facilities and factories.

Drone attacks are constant, with many jet-powered Shaheds.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyThe Ukrainian president described the continuing drone attacks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said drone attacks were constant and included many jet-powered Shaheds. He said almost 1,500 drones of all types had been fired at Ukraine in the previous four days, with more than half powered by jet engines. Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelensky, said about 1,500 jet-powered drones were used in July and more than 2,500 in August. He said they were being launched at Ukraine practically straight from the factory.

being launched at Ukraine practically straight from the factory

— Serhiy BeskrestnovA Zelensky adviser described the pace of production and deployment.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence says the drones contain hundreds of components made by foreign companies, including firms in the United States, Britain and China. The Ukrainian military said Russia launched 224 drones during daylight hours on Saturday, most of them jet-powered. Kyiv experienced eight air raid alerts between midnight and dusk on Sunday.

Ukrainian officials say the attacks seek to exhaust air defenses and weaken civilian morale while disrupting economic activity in the capital and other major cities. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said Ukraine’s response mechanisms must change. The pressure is also reaching schools, with Kyiv officials warning that lessons could be disrupted as children prepare for the new academic year. For now, Zelensky said, combat aircraft provide the main protection against the jet-powered drones, but Ukraine’s small air force is already stretched.

The enemy is trying to paralyze economic activity in the capital and major cities, so our approaches and response mechanisms must change.

— Serhii KoretskyiUkraine’s prime minister described the wider targets and the need to adapt defenses.
About this summary

Originally published by Egypt Independent in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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