I see nonsense spreading online like “Shaheds hit Lviv and Vinnytsia because all the air defense was given to the Arabs!” I have no questions for the Moscow bots – they are working. I’m curious why seemingly sensible people repeat nonsense from the Strana.UA website? Are you unaware that they were the first to spread this?
So, here’s the truth from someone who’s been involved with drones since 2015.
The first truth. If not for the air defense, not just a few Shaheds would have reached Lviv and Vinnytsia, but groups of Shaheds, about 30-40 units. Most enemy UAVs were shot down on approach.
Yes, now the Ukrainian air defense is fundamentally different from during the winter invasions. The previous shortcomings have been taken into account and corrected. The number and quality of interception means have significantly increased, and the crews have become several times larger. Compared to last summer, the current air defense is a world apart.
This is what I see and hear. I have numerous complaints about the current government, but that’s no reason to disparage those protecting the Ukrainian sky. I see and hear exactly what I write. I see the condition the guys are in when they return from air defense drone duty, because they are truly working hard.
The second truth. Yes, some enemy UAVs reached Lviv and Vinnytsia. Why? Because no air defense system gives a 100% guarantee of interception. Over the past day, Ukrainian air defense has shot down 906 out of 948 enemy drones. 96%. Compare this with the achievements of Americans and their allies in the Persian Gulf. Many NATO countries would declare such a result an incredible victory. But with us, as always, plant a trident on the Kremlin, and they’ll say, “Crooked.”
Our drones also reach as far as the Urals and beyond. And not because we have super-powerful equipment and only ace pilots. No, the enemy has very high-quality UAVs and powerful air defense systems. The enemy constantly improves them. The enemy doesn’t lack professional pilots. We repelled an attack by a very well-armed and dangerous enemy. 96% of the targets were shot down.
I can’t even imagine what it took for our sky defenders to achieve such results.
The third truth. Yes, there are talks about selling air defense drones abroad. And I consider this a correct step! Because not selling the drones won’t mean more for the Armed Forces. What will happen is that the drone manufacturers will have fewer funds to invest in improving production.
The truth is that manufacturers can provide many more drones than the Ministry of Defense can purchase; this excess is bought by volunteers. And they can produce even more. So why not put these drones up for sale so that manufacturers have working capital for development?
I don’t see this as a problem, neither as a pilot nor as a UAV instructor. I see who gets uneasy at such a prospect—Russia. Because, firstly, they categorically don’t want our companies to develop, and secondly, our drones are very likely to fight against their exported weapons and prove them worthless.
Does the Ministry of Defense need to buy more drones? Yes, it does. Yes, we need to demand more funds allocated for drones, not for other expenses, and not twist manufacturers’ arms with dumb bans.
Missiles will come and go. Because war is a paired dance. The enemy is constantly looking for gaps to strike and also because people make mistakes, equipment fails, and not everything can be intercepted. But 96% of downed targets is a great achievement, from any angle.
You can have as many complaints as you want about the government, but disparaging Ukrainian air defense and the Armed Forces is something a patriot would never do. And I, an opposition supporter, write this despite the rot spreading from corrupt land speculators on their dead channels.
Think carefully before repeating the nonsense the enemy throws out. Think well.
