Ukrainian Darknode unit's interceptor drones down first hundred Russian Shaheds
Ukrainian forces have begun systematically downing Russian Shahed UAVs using interceptor drones.
Source: Mezha Media, a technology and IT news platform within Ukrainska Pravda's holding company, with reference to the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram
Details: Fighters from the Darknode unit from the 412th Nemesis Regiment have successfully destroyed 100 Russian attack UAVs, including 76 Shaheds and 24 Gerans, which are simplified modifications of the Shahed-136 produced in Russia.
The Unmanned Systems Forces emphasised that this is the first instance in modern warfare where long-range attack drones are being systematically intercepted by other drones. This approach is economically efficient, as the cost of an air defence missile can reach US$1 million, while an interceptor drone costs around US$5,000.
The Unmanned Systems Forces are actively scaling up this area in order to compensate for the shortage of traditional air defence means and strengthen the protection of Ukrainian cities from Russian attacks.
The number of successful interceptions has increased by 40 units over the past two weeks, demonstrating the high effectiveness of new technologies in combating Russian drones.
Ukraine is actively developing interceptor drones capable of effectively fighting against Russian attack UAVs. One of these drones was officially presented to a Belgian delegation in April 2025.
Ukrainian interceptor drone shown to the Belgian delegation
It was reported that this drone had destroyed more than 20 Shahed-136 UAVs over the past two months. It can also be used against Russian reconnaissance drones. Although exact specifications remain classified, it is known that the drone's maximum speed reaches 200 km/h and its flight altitude is up to five km.
In addition, as reported by Defense Express, Ukrainian developers are working on specialised anti-Shahed models such as Sting, which has a speed of up to 280 km/h and automatic target acquisition. According to Defense Express, a German-made anti-aircraft drone called Tytan was tested in Ukraine at the end of 2024. It can reach speeds of 300 km/h and has a range of 20 km. This drone can be controlled using Valve's Steam Deck gaming console.
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Ukraine is working on other means to stop these terrifying new drones, such as pistols that fire nets to trap drones, but those capabilities are nowhere close to being common among Ukraine's units. Dmytro Slediuk, the head of the education department at Dronarium, a drone training school in Western Ukraine that has trained more than 15,000 operators, shared with BI that "regretfully, there are no specific means against fiber optic based drones," which is to say there aren't sophisticated means to stop them. Instead, soldiers "may counteract them using quite cheap and simple means." A US veteran who fought in Ukraine outlined the problem last month, explaining that "the FPVs, especially the fiber FPVs, they're unjammable, damn near undetectable, they come in hot at over a hundred miles an hour." "Unless you got a shotgun really, really, handy or one of the new net guns, which are very exciting, it's horrible," he said at a conference about drone warfare in NATO member Latvia. Trained to shoot Using shotguns to engage drones is something Ukrainian soldiers are being taught to do. Viktor Taran, the CEO of the KRUK drone training school in Kyiv that has trained over 8,000 people, told BI that when it comes to fiber-optic drones, "the only way to take those drones down is mechanical," like with shotguns. Pervak said shotguns can be very "effective against any kind of drone. It doesn't matter what size the drone is, what frequencies it has, or whether it is a fiber-optic drone." "The effectiveness of the shotgun depends on the operator's training," he said. A shotgun is a long-barreled weapon that can fire a damaging spray of projectiles. The 12-gauge is a common type. He said his drone school, working with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces 413th Battalion "Raid," has trained 250 soldiers and 30 instructors from different units. 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