--- title: "Zelenskyy Orders Accelerated Production of AI-Powered Robotic Turrets Against Shaheds" description: "Following a conference call, Zelenskyy stated that AI-powered robotic turrets are successfully destroying Shaheds, and ordered increased orders and accelerated production. Over 12 .50-caliber Sky Sentinel systems have already been deployed in Kyiv." date: 2026-10-19T13:52:42.830Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-orders-accelerated-production-ai-turrets tags: [ukraine, robotic-turrets, shahed-drones, sky-sentinel, ai-weaponry, defense-production] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelenskyy Orders Accelerated Production of AI-Powered Robotic Turrets Against Shaheds ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a wooden desk with documents in his office](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/19/zelensky-robotic-turrets-shahed-production-ai/zelensky-robotic-turrets-shahed-production-ai-1.webp) ## Key Points - Zelenskyy announced high results of AI-powered robotic turrets against Shaheds during a conference call and ordered an increased order. - Defense Minister Khmara, AF Commander-in-Chief Drapatyi, and Air Force Commander Kryvonozhko participated in the meeting. - Over 12 automatic .50-caliber turrets—Ukrainian Sky Sentinel systems—have already been installed in Kyiv, as confirmed by Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat. - Kyiv intends to accelerate organizational, financial, and production processes to expand the output of such systems. Ukraine is ramping up the production of automated robotic turrets equipped with artificial intelligence and machine vision systems. Following a conference call dedicated to the situation after another series of Russian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that such systems have demonstrated high effectiveness in destroying Shahed jet drones and that Kyiv intends to increase order volumes and maximize the speed of organizational, financial, and production processes. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from the head of state. ### Conference Call and Decision to Accelerate The decision to boost production was made against the backdrop of discussing the consequences of fresh Russian strikes. Alongside Zelenskyy, the meeting was attended by Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko. According to the publication, participants identified Ukraine's additional capabilities in turret manufacturing and agreed to increase the order to shorten delivery times for systems to the front lines and protected cities. ### President's Statement on System Effectiveness «They have performed very well in countering Shaheds. We are increasing the order, and it is important to accelerate all processes as much as possible: organizational, financial, and production,» Zelenskyy said, commenting on the operation of the robotic turrets. Thus, Kyiv's official stance is that automated systems with machine vision are already considered an effective air defense tool against jet drones and that their production will be expanded. ### Sky Sentinel System and .50 Caliber Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that more than 12 automatic .50-caliber turrets installed in Kyiv are Ukrainian Sky Sentinel systems, which was confirmed by Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat. This links the president's statement to a specific type of equipment: serial automatic turrets that are already being deployed in major cities as an element of local air defense. ### Context: Installation of Turrets in Kyiv The start of turret installations in Kyiv was previously publicly confirmed by Zelenskyy during a briefing with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on October 4. According to available data, robotic turrets are already shooting down Russian jet drones, and Kyiv aims to maximize damage to the enemy by relying on automated assets capable of operating under conditions of high-density drone attacks. ### Tactical Significance of Accelerated Production Accelerating the output of turrets with AI and machine vision logically fits into the overall task of increasing urban-level air defense density. Automation of recognition and targeting allows for a faster response to Shahed swarms than is possible with fully manual control, making the expansion of serial production a top priority for Ukraine's military-industrial complex under current conditions. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Турели очень хорошо уничтожают "Шахеды", будут новые заказы, - Зеленский](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/tureli-duzhe-dobre-znishchuyut-shahedi-budut-1792417348.html) - Primary source: Zelenskyy's statement following the conference call, participation of Khmara, Drapatyi, Kryvonozhko; confirmation of .50-caliber Sky Sentinel in Kyiv by Yurii Ihnat; mention of the briefing with Merz on October 4. Effectiveness figures come from the president's statement; there is no independent verification. ## FAQ ### What exactly did Zelenskyy say about robotic turrets? He stated that turrets with AI and machine vision "have performed very well in countering Shaheds," and that Ukraine is increasing orders and accelerating organizational, financial, and production processes. ### What systems are already installed in Kyiv? According to RBC-Ukraine and confirmation from Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat, more than 12 automatic .50-caliber turrets—Ukrainian Sky Sentinel systems—have been installed in Kyiv. ### Who participated in the conference call? According to the publication, alongside Zelenskyy, the meeting was attended by Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara, Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko.