Ukraine has developed and successfully deployed a new drone interceptor designed to counter russian jet-powered Shahed attack drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on September 19
Zelenskyy made the announcement after receiving a report from Oleksandr Poklad, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).
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According to the president, the SSU’s military counterintelligence has already achieved results in countering russia’s jet-powered Shahed drones. The newly developed interceptor has not only been created but has also been successfully used in combat.
"A new interceptor drone has been developed and has already been successfully deployed. Step by step, we are moving forward to give Ukraine greater protection," Zelenskyy said. He also thanked the developers and manufacturers working to scale up production of the new weapon.
The announcement follows Zelenskyy’s earlier statement that two Ukrainian companies had successfully conducted combat tests of interceptor drones designed to destroy russian jet-powered Shaheds. According to the president, Ukrainian forces had already managed to engage and destroy such drones during the tests.
The development marks a new direction in Ukraine’s air-defense effort, aimed specifically at countering the faster russian attack drones that are increasingly being used alongside conventional Shahed variants.
However, the SSU and the Ukrainian government have not yet disclosed the interceptor’s designation, specifications, speed, range, guidance system, or the number of russian drones it has engaged.
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