Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the country is developing new high-speed interceptor drones and cheap missiles to counter the jet-powered Shahed drones that Russia uses to attack Ukrainian cities. The head of state announced this in his Telegram channel, as reported by RBC-Ukraine.
Supreme Commander's Council Meeting: Interceptors as Priority
According to Zelensky, the main issue during the meeting of the Supreme Commander's Council was accelerating the production of means to destroy enemy drones. He emphasized that domestic manufacturers already have the capacity to carry out this task, and prototypes of the new weapons have been developed, with work ongoing to bring them to the required level of effectiveness.
Prototypes and Business Involvement
During the Council meeting, the potential for involving business in the production, supply, and configuration of certain types of air defense systems was discussed in detail. The comprehensive goal, according to the president, is to reach a level of defense industry that will ensure sufficient quality and quantity of high-speed interceptor drones and cheap missiles to counter Russia. Zelensky added that it is important to complete the task within set deadlines.
Asymmetric Response
"Our intelligence services have clear information about the enemy's plans, and our resources are directed at giving a clear response to the threat. We will also act asymmetrically. The relevant operations have been approved," the president emphasized. It is noted that following recent massive shelling, a high threat of new strikes remains in Ukraine, and the Russians are intensifying attacks with jet-powered drones, causing air alerts to continue almost non-stop in many regions and communities.
Contradictory Data
At the same time, there are differing emphases in public assessments of the state of air defense. On one hand, Zelensky speaks of the capabilities of domestic manufacturers and the developed prototypes. On the other hand, according to a number of publications, air defense missile stockpiles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been significantly reduced — one source points to a 2.5-fold drop in stockpiles, while the Finnish outlet YLE reports the president's words about a shortage of air defense resources. Thus, optimistic rhetoric about new developments coexists with an acknowledged deficit of existing defense means, indicating a transitional period: the new weapons have not yet been brought to the required effectiveness, while old stockpiles are depleted.
Bill Against "Drops"
In parallel, the authorities are working on strengthening internal security and the financial system. In particular, Zelensky submitted a bill to parliament on strengthening the fight against so-called "drops." The document proposes amendments to Article 200 of the Criminal Code and the introduction of a new Article 2001, providing for strict criminal liability for illegal operations involving payment cards, bank accounts, and personal data.
