Ukraine Is Now Deploying 1,500 Anti-Shahed Drones a Day—and It’s Changing the Air War

Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are now receiving more than 1,500 specialized anti-Shahed interceptor drones daily, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said on January 7.

According to the Defense Minister, December and January marked a major ramp-up in the average delivery rate of interceptor drones to military units, significantly strengthening Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian aerial threats.

The expanded supply has boosted defensive capabilities across multiple layers—from frontline positions to the protection of rear regions—allowing Ukrainian forces to respond more flexibly to drone attacks at different depths.

Interceptor drones have become a critical component of Ukraine’s multi-layered air defense architecture.

Their widespread use helps preserve high-value surface-to-air missiles, which are costly and limited in supply, while increasing the density of air defenses during large-scale Russian drone assaults without overloading traditional air defense systems.

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The Ministry of Defense noted that interceptor drones are now playing a key role in protecting personnel, equipment, and logistics hubs along the front line.

Shmyhal also said that through the DOT-Chain Defence weapons marketplace, Ukrainian units independently ordered and received more than 7,000 tactical-level interceptor drones. This system, he explained, allows frontline units to meet urgent needs without waiting for centralized deliveries.

In parallel, Ukraine is forming dedicated interceptor-drone units and training formations at military training centers specifically tasked with shooting down Russian Shahed-type drones. Authorities are also establishing interception zones at a distance from major cities to reduce the threat before drones reach urban areas.

Earlier, Ukraine for the first time used a domestically produced interceptor drone to destroy a Russian Geran-3—known internationally as the Iranian Shahed-238—during an overnight attack.

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