Ukrainian UAV operators have increased capacity to intercept Russian drones, experts say

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shared the information in its recent report.

According to analysts, if these technological innovations are successfully applied on a large scale, they could allow Ukrainian troops to relieve pressure on short- and medium-range air defense systems.

For example, a video published on June 1 shows Ukrainian forces using first-person view (FPV) drones to shoot down a Russian Zala tactical reconnaissance drone and an Orlan-10 medium-range reconnaissance drone in the air near Velyka Novosilka.

Analysts point out that both Ukraine and Russia are actively improving their drone warfare technologies. However, while the Ukrainian side has demonstrated the effectiveness of using FPV drones to destroy enemy UAVs, there is no information on the use of similar tactics by Russian troops.

Meanwhile, the effective use of inexpensive FPV drones by Ukrainians to destroy Russian reconnaissance drones could be a decisive factor in the war. This will save expensive and scarce air defense systems for intercepting more valuable targets, such as Russian aircraft.

• The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that in the realities of modern warfare, the number of drone strikes is on par with artillery, which makes drones a priority for the army.