Russia intends to significantly change the tactics of its massive air strikes against the territory of Ukraine. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint briefing with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Kyiv. According to the head of state, the Ukrainian side and its allies must prepare for a new challenge, as the enemy plans to scale up the deployment of fundamentally new airborne weapons.
New Focus on Quality and Speed
As the Ukrainian leader emphasized, the Russian side intends to focus on the qualitative characteristics of its weaponry instead of the previous extensive approach. Although there may not be as many jet drones at the initial stage as the usual propeller-driven Shahed-type UAVs, they possess completely different speed characteristics. This forces the Ukrainian command to urgently adapt the entire layered air defense system to the new threats.
Challenges for Air Defense
The President of Ukraine noted that the occupiers will continue to combine air strikes, using both cruise and ballistic missiles. While air defense forces already have effective counter-measures against cruise missiles, ballistic missiles remain a serious challenge. Nevertheless, jet drones terrorizing Ukrainian cities are becoming the main tactical complexity at the moment.
Response of the Ukrainian Defense Industry
In response to technological challenges, the Ukrainian authorities and the domestic military-industrial complex are taking preventive measures. In particular, special defensive turrets are already being installed in the capital and other regions, and dozens of private and state-owned companies are working on creating effective interception tools. As Zelenskyy noted, Ukraine is also actively seeking scarce ammunition for F-16 fighter jets, which should become part of a comprehensive response to the enemy's modernized air attacks.
