According to a recent report, the Darknode unit intercepted a total of 60 russian kamikaze drones – 24 in March and 36 in April 2025. The downed UAVs included Iranian-made Shahed-136 and other variants frequently deployed to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses.
What sets the Ukrainian solution apart is its cost-efficiency and adaptability. While a single interceptor missile from a traditional system like the NASAMS or Patriot can cost upwards of $1 million, Ukrainian-made interceptor drones reportedly cost around $5,000 each.
Read more: How Many Targets Can Be Destroyed or Hit in 10,000 Sorties: Nemesis Regiment Reveals the Statistics
Despite their lower price tag, these drones are able to successfully destroy enemy UAVs costinag anywhere from $10,000 to $150,000. In effect, Ukraine is flipping the economic logic of russia's drone war, making it far more costly for Moscow to continue such attacks.
Ukrainian forces have thus not only achieved operational success but have also demonstrated a cost-efficient model that could redefine air defense strategy globally. The success of the Nemesis Regiment reinforces the importance of the Unmanned Systems Forces in modern warfare and showcases the country's ability to innovate under fire.
As Defense Express previously reported, the 412th Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces recently reported that in just over a year since the unit's formation, its fighters have conducted more than 10,000 combat sorties, in addition to around 1,000 reconnaissance drone sorties.
Read more: The Nemesis Regiment Destroys russian Drone Control Point Near the Kakhovka Reservoir (Video)
