🧵 1/ Russia is flooding Ukraine with Shahed drones - sometime...
David Kirichenko@DVKirichenko
39 views
Jul 01, 2025
~2 min read
Advertisement
1
🧵 1/ Russia is flooding Ukraine with Shahed drones - sometime hundreds of them daily.
Ukrainian air defense have been overwhelmed.
But a new homegrown solution is gaining ground: interceptor drones.
Here's how Ukraine is adapting.
Ukrainian air defense have been overwhelmed.
But a new homegrown solution is gaining ground: interceptor drones.
Here's how Ukraine is adapting.
2
2/ Ukraine has begun deploying modified FPV (first-person view) drones to shoot down Russian reconnaissance UAVs like Orlan and Zala.
And now even Shahed loitering munitions.
These FPV interceptors are fast, cheap, and increasingly effective.
And now even Shahed loitering munitions.
These FPV interceptors are fast, cheap, and increasingly effective.
3
3/ One Ukrainian unit recently used interceptor drones to destroy 33 Russian UAVs in a single night.
These successes are turning interceptor drones into a key layer of Ukraine’s asymmetric air defense strategy.
These successes are turning interceptor drones into a key layer of Ukraine’s asymmetric air defense strategy.
4
4/ Most of this capability doesn’t come from state contracts - it’s funded by the public.
Ukrainian charities like are driving innovation and delivery through projects like Dronefall.
Ukrainian charities like are driving innovation and delivery through projects like Dronefall.
5
5/ Dronefall alone has enabled the downing of over 2,000 Russian drones, worth ~$150M in damage, by building radar + drone interception infrastructure from donations.
Now it's shifting focus to the faster and deadlier Shaheds.
Now it's shifting focus to the faster and deadlier Shaheds.
6
6/ Costs are gradually falling.
Fall 2023: ~$7,200 to shoot down a drone
Spring 2025: ~$5,800
As operators gain experience, one drone often takes down another, reducing dependence on missile systems.
Fall 2023: ~$7,200 to shoot down a drone
Spring 2025: ~$5,800
As operators gain experience, one drone often takes down another, reducing dependence on missile systems.
7
7/ Biggest challenge? Training.
There’s a long waitlist for Ukrainian-made radar systems, and not enough training centers.
Experienced units often train new ones themselves, slowing operations but growing the skill base.
There’s a long waitlist for Ukrainian-made radar systems, and not enough training centers.
Experienced units often train new ones themselves, slowing operations but growing the skill base.
8
8/ Russian drones are evolving too: rear cameras, evasive maneuvers, and radio sensors.
But Ukraine’s FPV pilots adapt just as fast, striking from blind spots that the russian drones have.
But Ukraine’s FPV pilots adapt just as fast, striking from blind spots that the russian drones have.
9
9/ Aircraft-style interceptors now fly up to an hour, enabling patrols over cities.
Ukrainian-made communication systems and partial automation (like visual-targeting) are also speeding up response time.
Ukrainian-made communication systems and partial automation (like visual-targeting) are also speeding up response time.
10
10/ Drones can't shoot down cruise missiles, at least not yet.
The speed and timing required make it impractical without full automation.
For now, drones are best at neutralizing UAVs like Shaheds and recon drones.
The speed and timing required make it impractical without full automation.
For now, drones are best at neutralizing UAVs like Shaheds and recon drones.
11
11/ What Ukraine needs next:
1) More training centers
2)Scaled-up interceptor production
3) Funding to defend not just the front but cities like Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia
1) More training centers
2)Scaled-up interceptor production
3) Funding to defend not just the front but cities like Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia
12
13
"We need to make it so the Russians cry bitter tears, so they’re afraid to take flight," said one financier of the new interceptor drones taking out Russian UAVs kyivindependent.com/ukraines-new-i…