Ukraine is investing $72 million in drones to help counter the growing threat of Russian drone attacks. The country aims to develop a cost-effective defense against Russia’s missile and drone threats, which have been increasingly difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to combat.
Russia has been using Iranian-designed Shahed drones, making it challenging for Ukraine to defend itself. To address this, Ukraine is pursuing international partnerships for additional purchases of interceptor drones. These drones are designed to engage Russian threats and offer a more affordable alternative to Patriot missiles, which have limited availability and high costs.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister, Denys Shmyhal, announced four contracts for drone intercept technology worth over $72 million. The country’s air defense efforts are already stretched thin, with Ukraine having reported that Russia is arming its drones with bigger payloads and thermobaric warheads, making them harder to shoot down.
Ukraine’s limited availability of Patriot batteries, which can be expensive and strain stockpiles when used extensively, has pushed the country to find more innovative solutions. Defensive interceptor drones are seen as a promising option due to their affordability and ease of production.
The situation is critical, with Western military experts suggesting that Russia could overwhelm Ukrainian cities with thousands of drones in a single night. To address this threat, Ukraine is investing in domestic drone production, including the development of modified American-designed pickup trucks featuring a launch configuration for Shahed-style drones.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-spending-millions-on-killer-drones-to-combat-shahed-attacks-2025-7