Layered drone defenses help Ukraine counter Russian attacks, pilot says

Ukrainian drone operators in the eastern Kharkiv region say their interceptors form part of several overlapping air‑defense lines designed to block Russian drones during nightly attacks.

Borys, an interceptor drone platoon commander from the 420th unmanned aerial systems battalion, said the groups work to cover each other's gaps to create a defensive line Russia "will not be able to overcome."

He said crews have only "a minute or two" to hit an incoming drone once it enters the strike zone they're responsible for.

At times, multiple launches failed to locate a target, forcing pilots to bring their remote-controlled interceptors back to base.

Ukraine has rapidly expanded its interceptor‑drone capabilities after years of Russian strikes, and officials say similar technology is now being shared with partners abroad.

Kyiv has deployed specialist teams to several Middle Eastern states to advise on countering Iranian Shahed drones.

Footage released by the 420th Battalion showed an interceptor drone closing in on what it said was a Russian drone before the screen briefly turned blue after impact.

Reuters was not able to verify the location and date when the videos were filmed. No older version was found posted online before March 20. Reuters could not identify the drone that is said to have been intercepted, however, the water marks on the footage indicate a P1-SUN was used, which is a Ukrainian interceptor drone. 

Asked about strikes on energy systems in both Ukraine and the Middle East, Borys said critical infrastructure sites could be defended effectively with interceptor drones using automated targeting software, which his unit does not currently have.

Production: Vladyslav Smilianets, Sergiy Karazy, Felix Hoske/Reuters