Moscow’s Daily Jet-Drone Deployments Outpace Kyiv’s Air Defenses

Moscow deployed its new rapid, jet-powered drones against Ukraine every day throughout August, BBC Verify analysis of Ukrainian Air Force data has found, escalating the use of a weapon that Kyiv’s air defenses are struggling to counter.

It marked the first time daily attacks by Moscow’s upgraded Geran drones were recorded in Ukrainian Air Force data. The growing use of jet-propelled and other drone varieties prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to condemn what he described as an unfolding “horror” over Kyiv’s skies.

Ukraine’s military recently told the BBC that jet-powered drone attacks grew from 350 in June to 1,600 in July and 2,800 in August. In five of the nightly attacks in August, these drones outnumbered the older, slower models.

“The shift to jet-powered drones is driven by their significantly higher speed compared to the previous generation, making them far more difficult for Ukraine to intercept,” said Dr Marina Miron, an expert on military technology at King’s College London.

The upgraded munitions can cruise at over 300mph, substantially faster than older models and exceeding the top speed of Kyiv’s interceptors. The drones are powered by turbojet engines, some of which, according to Ukrainian military intelligence, are sourced from China.

According to Zelensky, the drones were part of a wave of attacks that killed at least 12 people and injured 20 more on 1 September. Six of the casualties were railway workers after a depot was struck in Kyiv.

Earlier this year Ukraine showed relative success in countering Russian drones and was intercepting 94% of long-range drones, according to Zelensky. However, the speed of the newer drones has prompted the latest phase in the aerial arms race. On 10 August, Ukraine’s deputy head of military intelligence, Maj Gen Vadym Skibitskyi, said his forces needed new interceptor missiles “capable of matching [jet-drones’] speed”.

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