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Ukraine Now Stops 90% of Russian Drones—But Ballistic Missiles Still Break Through
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s air defense forces are intercepting more than 90% of incoming Russian drones, but the country still requires stronger capabilities to counter ballistic missile threats.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on April 27 that Russia launched a large-scale wave of aerial attacks over the past week, highlighting both the effectiveness and current limitations of Ukraine’s air defense system, in a Telegram post.
“Over the past week, Russia launched around 1,900 attack drones, nearly 1,400 guided aerial bombs, and about 60 missiles of various types,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukraine’s air defense performance against drones remains high: “Our air defense system is already demonstrating a very high interception rate of drones—over 90%.”
At the same time, Zelenskyy emphasized the need to expand capabilities against other types of threats. “We must continue working to ensure this percentage keeps increasing—not only in intercepting drones, but also ballistic missiles,” he said.
The figures indicate that alongside approximately 1,900 drones, Russia also deployed nearly 1,400 guided aerial bombs and around 60 missiles over the same period, reflecting a continued reliance on a mixed strike strategy combining low-cost drones with heavier precision-guided munitions.
Zelenskyy linked the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air defense to ongoing international support, noting that additional missile supplies directly enhance protection. “Every additional delivery of air defense missiles means saved lives, better protected cities, and critical infrastructure,” he said.
He also pointed to recent international developments, including new contributions to the PURL program, the European Union’s 20th sanctions package, and a €90 billion European support initiative discussed in Cyprus.
Earlier, a Ukrainian pilot from the Bulava unit used a STING interceptor drone to destroy two Russian Shahed-type drones from a distance of 500 km—the first known operation of its kind.
The interceptor, developed by the Wild Hornets group, combines high-speed performance with long-range digital control via the Hornet Vision system, enabling operators to engage targets far beyond traditional air defense ranges.
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