---
title: "Khmara Tasks Air Defense to Destroy Targets Before Reaching Kyiv"
description: "Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara has tasked air defense forces with destroying enemy targets before they reach Kyiv and announced the expansion of technological countermeasures."
date: 2026-09-29T15:28:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/khmara-tasks-air-defense-to-destroy-targets
tags: [air-defense, yevhen-khmara, kyiv, shahed-drones, ukraine-war]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Khmara Tasks Air Defense to Destroy Targets Before Reaching Kyiv

![Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara at an air defense command post in the Kyiv region](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/29/hmara-postavil-zadachu-ppo-unichtozhat-tseli/hmara-postavil-zadachu-ppo-unichtozhat-tseli-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara visited Air Force command posts in the Kyiv region.
- A task was set to destroy enemy weapons before they reach Kyiv.
- Special focus is placed on countering jet-powered Shahed drones.
- The minister postponed visits to Germany and Norway due to escalating security challenges.

The changing tactics of Russian aerial terror pose new security challenges for Ukraine's capital region. In response to the continuous modernization of strike weapons, the country's defense leadership is taking urgent steps to adapt air defense forces to modern realities. Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara paid a working visit to Air Force command posts in the Kyiv region, where he held a series of strategic meetings with the command staff.

### New Strategy for Protecting the Capital's Skies

During the inspection of command posts, the key topic of discussion was improving the efficiency of combat operations in real time. The Defense Minister set a clear task for Ukraine's sky defenders: to intercept and destroy enemy strike weapons at long approaches, preventing them from coming close to the capital. Achieving this ambitious goal requires a fundamental restructuring of interaction between aviation, air defense, and mobile fire groups.

According to the defense chief, these changes will affect approaches to using weapons and tactical responses to new types of threats. The minister also spoke with combat pilots and air defense operators, discussing current unit needs, resource shortages, and ways to quickly replenish them to ensure uninterrupted combat work.

### Countering Jet Drones and Technological Innovations

Special attention at the meeting was paid to modernized jet-powered Shahed-type strike drones. Although this weaponry poses a severe threat due to its high flight speed, Ukrainian forces already have successful interception experience. The main goal now is to scale up effective technological solutions and supply them to the troops.

"Such targets are already being shot down. Now we must scale effective technological solutions and provide them to the units. We are working on this together with the military, Ukrainian manufacturers, and partners," Yevhen Khmara emphasized, highlighting the synergy between the state sector and private defense innovations.

### Contradictory Data

Certain debates exist in open sources regarding the exact timeframe for fully reformatting mobile groups to counter high-speed jet targets. Some analytics suggest that integrating complex short-range systems will take time, while Ministry of Defense officials insist that domestic production capabilities allow for accelerated implementation.

### Consequences and Strategic Context

The decisions to strengthen the Kyiv region come as the Defense Minister postponed planned trips to Germany and Norway due to the escalation of attacks. Strengthening the capital's defense is combined with long-range strikes against enemy military assets, which collectively aims to reduce the aggressor's combat potential.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Хмара поставил задачу ПВО: уничтожать цели до того, как долетят до Киева](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/hmara-postaviv-zavdannya-ppo-znishchuvati-1790695523.html) - Официальные заявления министра обороны Украины о задачах для ПВО и развитии технологий перехвата дронов.
- [Хмара посетил командные пункты Воздушных сил на Киевщине: Усилим эшелонированную защиту Киева](https://censor.net/ru/news/4025826/ministr-oborony-hmara-postavil-pered-pvo-zadachu-po-zaschite-kieva) - Детали рабочей поездки главы ведомства в воинские части Киевской области и обсуждение эшелонированной обороны.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What task did Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara set for the air defense forces?
**A:** He ordered the destruction of enemy strike weapons before they reach Kyiv.

### Q: What new weapon types were specifically addressed at the meeting?
**A:** Jet-powered Shahed-type strike drones.

### Q: Why did the Defense Minister reschedule his trips to Germany and Norway?
**A:** Due to the growing number of Russian attacks and domestic security needs.