Zelensky: SBU military counter-intelligence creates new interceptor drone against Shaheds
President Zelensky said on September 19 that the SBU's military counter-intelligence has achieved a good result in countering reactive Shahed-type drones, including through a newly created interceptor drone that has already been successfully used. The announcement came after a briefing from SBU head Oleksandr Poklad.
Key points
- Zelensky reported receiving a briefing from SBU head Oleksandr Poklad.
- SBU military counter-intelligence achieved a good result in countering reactive Shahed-type drones, Zelensky wrote on Facebook.
- A new SBU interceptor drone has been created and already successfully used.
- The Armed Forces are testing four prospective models of interceptor drones at the front line.
- About ten additional manufacturers are testing their own interceptor drone developments.
- On September 14, Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi briefed Zelensky on countering reactive drones.
- Zelensky has previously said 67 Ukrainian companies can mass-shoot down reactive drones, with 3–5 already showing results.
Why it matters
The announcement signals Ukrainian progress in fielding domestically produced interceptor drones against Russian Shahed attacks, part of a broader push to scale up homegrown air-defense manufacturing.
What happened
On September 19, President Zelensky reported on Facebook that he had received a briefing from SBU head Oleksandr Poklad. Zelensky said the SBU's military counter-intelligence had achieved a good result in countering reactive Shahed-type drones, including through a newly created interceptor drone that has already been successfully used. He thanked Ukrainian developers and manufacturers working to scale up production of the necessary weapons. The announcement follows a September 14 briefing from Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi on efforts to counter reactive drones.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage frames the story around Zelensky's public address and emphasizes the role of the SBU and domestic manufacturers in producing effective countermeasures. Reports highlight collaboration between the SBU, the Armed Forces, and Ukrainian developers in scaling up interceptor drone production.
Background
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are currently testing four prospective models of interceptor drones on the front line, with about ten additional manufacturers undergoing tests of their own interceptor drone developments. Zelensky has previously stated that 67 Ukrainian companies are capable of mass-shooting down reactive drones, with 3–5 having already demonstrated results.