Since January 2024, Russian forces have launched 2,277 Shahed-type attack drones at Ukrainian territory. Air defense forces managed to destroy about 86 percent of the enemy drones, according to the Commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykola Oleshchuk.
"Since January 1, 2024, Russian forces have launched 2,277 Shahed-type attack drones over Ukrainian territory. Air defense forces have destroyed about 86 percent, that is 1,953 Shaheds," Oleshchuk reported.
He stated that these results were achieved due to the enhanced combat capabilities of Ukraine's mobile fire teams.
"Thousands of servicemen head out to fire positions almost every night and shoot down enemy UAVs with all available weapons," noted the commander.
He also mentioned that the creation of mobile fire teams was a necessary step for the Air Forces since the beginning of the Russian invasion. The enemy constantly increases attacks with a large number of aerial attack means, especially attack UAVs.
"We had to respond quickly, increasing not only the number of mobile fire team units but also the quality of their equipment. Today, the small arms, anti-aircraft guns, and man-portable air defense systems used by the mobile fire teams are modified and equipped with additional gear to ensure effective combat performance," added Oleshchuk.
According to him, this includes night vision devices, thermal imaging, optics, laser pointers, spotlights, electronic warfare equipment, software, and high-mobility vehicles.
"All this allows us to shoot down enemy targets more effectively. The mobile fire teams are responsible for over 80 percent of the shot down Shaheds," emphasized the commander.
Ukrainian air defense operation
On the night of June 23, Russian forces used Kalibr cruise missiles for another air attack on Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian air defense forces managed to shoot down two of these missiles.
On the night of June 22, Russia launched a combined attack on Ukraine, firing 16 missiles of various types and 13 kamikaze drones. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed 25 enemy targets.