Russia is shifting its aerial campaign against Ukraine toward near-continuous attacks using faster, jet-powered Shahed drones that are proving more difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to intercept.

The new drones can reach speeds of roughly 280 mph — about three times faster than older propeller-driven models. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched 1,500 long-range drones in just four days, including approximately 800 jet-powered variants.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said a greater percentage of the jet-powered drones are reaching their targets. During one August 6 attack involving 101 drones, most of them jet-powered, Ukrainian forces intercepted just 65% — the country’s lowest interception rate this year, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Russia is simultaneously maintaining a steady barrage of cruise and ballistic missiles against Ukrainian cities. The relentless aerial campaign has severely disrupted daily life in Kyiv, affecting public transportation and forcing residents to hold meetings in underground parking garages amid repeated air-raid alerts.

Ukrainian defense technology companies are developing a new generation of faster interceptor drones to counter the threat, but Ukraine currently has only hundreds of suitable interceptors available while officials say thousands are needed.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)