Ukraine racing to develop new interceptors as Russian drones and missiles ravage the country

Live updates

1. 13d ago

   Ukraine develops interceptors as Russia surges jet-powered drone attacks

   Ukraine is accelerating the development of new interceptors to counter a surge in Russian drone and missile strikes. Russia has transitioned to a tactic of nonstop waves of drones, including a five-fold increase in high-speed jet-powered Shahed attacks in a single month. In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered the military to triple daily long-range strikes on Russia, with plans to deploy 1,000 drones per day to bring the war deeper into Russian territory and undermine Kremlin narratives.

   Why it matters

   The air war has entered a deadlier phase characterized by all-day attacks designed to wear down Ukrainian defenses. Russia is utilizing new-generation drones to maintain constant pressure on Kyiv. Ukraine is attempting to mirror this strategy by increasing the scale and punch of its own long-range drone campaigns.

   What is confirmed

   • Russia launched 800 jet-powered drones into Ukraine over a four-day period.
   • Ukraine's air force reported a five-fold increase in high-speed jet-powered Shahed attacks within a single month.
   • President Zelenskyy ordered the military to triple the number of daily long-range strikes against Russia.
   • Russia is employing a tactic of nonstop waves of drones to exhaust Ukrainian forces.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Russia will continue drone attacks until the September vote, according to Budanov.

   What to watch next

   • Deployment of Ukraine's new interceptors against jet-powered drones
   • Evidence of increased Ukrainian drone strike volume reaching 1,000 per day
   • Impact of the September vote on Russian drone attack frequency
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. WSJ — The Russia-Ukraine Air War Has Entered a New, Deadlier Phase
   2. The Guardian — Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy orders military to triple daily long-range strikes on Russia
   3. Al Jazeera — Ukraine’s Zelenskyy plans to hit Russia with ‘1,000 drones’ a day
   4. The Independent — How Ukraine is trying to beat Russia at its own game with massive drone strike campaign
   5. The New York Times — Russia Torments Kyiv With New Tactic of Nonstop Waves of Drones
   6. The Guardian — Russia fires 800 jet-powered drones into Ukraine in four days
   7. CNN — Ukraine racing to develop new interceptors as Russian drones and missiles ravage the country
   8. WSJ — The Ukraine Drones That Are Carrying a Bigger Punch, Deeper Into Russia
   9. The Independent — Ukraine war live: Nato mission scrambles jets as four killed in attack on Kyiv
   10. Business Insider — Russia surged high-speed jet-powered Shahed attacks by 5 times in a single month, Ukraine's air force said
   11. Kyiv Post — Budanov Says Russia Will Keep Drone Attacks Until September Vote
   12. WSJ — Russia Turns to New-Generation Drones and All-Day Attacks to Wear Down Ukrainians
   confidence 90%