Inside Ukraine's drive to defeat the dreaded Shahed drone
Ukraine is intensifying efforts to neutralize the Shahed drone, a significant threat from Russia. With a goal to intercept 95% of these drones, Ukrainian forces have improved their interception rate to 90%. However, the technological race with Russia poses ongoing challenges as the capabilities of the Shahed drones evolve.
- ▪Ukrainian forces are working to intercept the Shahed drone, which has become a major threat in the conflict.
- ▪The interception rate for these drones has increased to 90%, but challenges remain as Russia adapts its technology.
- ▪Ukraine's Defence Minister has set a target to neutralize 95% of all long-range attack drones launched by Russia.
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Inside Ukraine's drive to defeat the dreaded Shahed droneSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished Apr 29, 2026, 01:08 PMUpdated Apr 29, 2026, 01:23 PMListenKHARKIV REGION, Ukraine, April 29 - In a foggy field in northeast Ukraine, four soldiers stare at red and yellow dots on a screen in the back of a van, armed with interceptor drones and energy drinks to get through the night.These pilots, and about a thousand other crews like them, are on the frontlines of Ukraine's drive to knock one of Russia's most potent weapons out of the war: the Shahed drone."Even if you use 50 drones to shoot down one Shahed, it's worth it," said Borys, the commander of the crew, who was a TV news producer before the war upended his life.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.