Ukraine Forms Dedicated UAS Command as Drone War Intensifies
Ukraine’s Armed Forces have established a new command to reinforce unmanned aerial system (UAS) operations against Russian kamikaze drones.
The move follows effective results of Kyiv’s interceptor drone fleets against enemy loitering munitions, including the Shahed and Geran platforms that Moscow has been using throughout its almost four-year invasion of Ukraine.
In support of the new command unit, the war-torn country is now ramping up warfighter enlistment, crew training, and workforce recruitment for dedicated drone interceptor divisions.
Ukraine is also optimizing counter-UAS security for critical government infrastructure on the frontlines, ensuring that those sites can respond quickly against potential threats.
“Highly professional officers with combat experience were assigned to the command staff of the Air Force,” Commander-in-Chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi stated.
“They provided practical proposals for the development of “small air defense,” as a result of which the necessary management decisions were made.”
Enemy Tactics, UAS Supply, and Report on Helicopter Attacks
During the command’s announcement, Syrskyi gave additional updates on recently observed UAS strategies from Russian forces.
He warned that Moscow continues to adapt on the battlefield, with new methods including the use of American-made Starlink satellite terminals to extend the range of strike drones, as well as the exploitation of weather conditions.
Syrskyi also highlighted recent production milestones aimed at replenishing UAS inventory, stressing that constant output from Ukrainian and European manufacturers, along with continued Western deliveries of radars and drones, remains critical to maintaining air defense momentum.
Meanwhile, Syrskyi stated that Ukrainian military aviation delivers sustained performance against airborne targets, with helicopters having destroyed more than 5,000 enemy attack drones to date.
