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.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Ukrainian soldier's best chance against Russia's advanced unjammable drones is as low-tech as it gets
Ukrainian soldiers are fighting against Russia's new fiber-optic drones that are resistant to jamming. Soldiers and drone trainers say they have to be stopped in an old-fashioned way: with shotguns. They are a last resort against regular drones, but often the only real defense against fiber-optics. The best chance front-line Ukrainian soldiers have against Russia's unjammable drones is less than ideal. Short on options for fighting these drones, soldiers rely on low-tech shotguns to survive. Fiber-optic drones that can't be stopped or thrown off course by jamming and other forms of electronic warfare are becoming increasingly prolific in this war, and bringing one down requires physically shooting it down. Vitalii Pervak, the CEO of Karlsson, Karas & Associates, a drone training school in Ukraine, told BI that "the best way to counter drones is to have a kinetic impact on them." He said that given how fast the front lines change, Russia's electronic warfare efforts, and Ukraine's regular shortages, "a shotgun is the best option." Dimko Zhluktenko, a drone operator with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said his unit always has a 12-gauge shotgun with them as standard protocol on every mission for this reason. When it comes to fiber-optic drones, he has been trained and told by other soldiers that a shotgun is "the most reliable way to shoot down a drone if it's using the fiber optic" cables. Even with regular drones that can be stopped with electronic warfare, success isn't always guaranteed. If electronic warfare doesn't work, "then the last resort that you have is the shotgun." There is a "drone with explosives flying into you, and you can't jam it," Zhluktenko said. "So, you shoot it down." Fiber-optic drones have a long, thin cable attached to them that allows them to maintain their connection, relying on that instead of a radio frequency that is vulnerable to interference. With the rise of drone warfare in Ukraine came a rush to develop countermeasures. Electronic warfare has been effective at stopping more conventional drones, but now fiber-optic drones and AI-enabled drones are becoming more prevalent. 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. 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. Igor Belov, the founder of PSS by Logics7, a Ukrainian company that makes weapon training simulators, told BI that it is working on a simulator to train soldiers on using shotguns to shoot down regular first-person view drones and fiber-optic drones. The company is already training soldiers with its simulators to face drone threats like drone swarms and low-flying drones. "We are developing products that our army truly needs," he explained, adding that "our first priority is to ensure they function effectively under real battlefield conditions." "All of our solutions are designed based on direct feedback from military personnel, with one clear goal — to have a real impact on the battlefield and to help save lives," Belov said. More than 60,000 soldiers have been trained on Logic7's systems. Dmytro Martsilenko, the press officer for Ukraine's 33rd Assault Regiment, was much less certain on the value of guns against drones. "There is not enough data to assess the effectiveness of using a shotgun against drones. Because there is not enough experience," he said. "Nevertheless, they are already practicing using shotguns against drones at training grounds," he added. "And EVERY unit is equipped with a shotgun." Another Ukrainian drone operator, who spoke to BI on the condition of anonymity, said his unit has a 12-gauge shotgun for shooting down drones if needed. Drones are being used more in Russia's war against Ukraine than in any other conflict in history, and they are used to gather intelligence, explode on target, launch grenades, and direct fire for other weaponry crews. The extensive use of drone technology has created a challenging battlespace, with so many in the air that soldiers can't always tell which side they belong to. There are conventional quadcopters and octocopters, fiber-optic drones, AI-enabled drones, loitering munitions, and more being deployed in this fight. For some, the answer is as simple as a shotgun. For others, it's electronic warfare. In some cases, a heavy machine gun can bring one down. And then, there are drones that require interceptors, which can be costly. For instance, Ukraine operates a limited supply of high-end air defense systems, but employing a multi-million-dollar interceptor at a drone that costs only tens of thousands of dollars isn't sustainable. The Ukrainians have been increasingly using drones as cheaper intercept alternatives. But for the front-line, tactical drone fights, Ukrainian soldiers are keeping their low-tech shotguns close at hand. Read the original article on Business Insider

Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Associated Press
DroneSense and Parrot Launch Secure, NDAA-Compliant Drone Solutions for U.S. Public Safety
AUSTIN, TX / ACCESS Newswire / June 16, 2025 / DroneSense, a leading public safety drone software provider, and Parrot, Europe's leading commercial micro-UAV group, today announced a strategic partnership alongside the launch of the Parrot ANAFI UKR GOV micro-UAV at the 2025 Paris Air Show. This integrated solution delivers a Blue UAS / NDAA-compliant drone hardware and software platform tailored for U.S. public safety agencies navigating heightened regulatory demands and increasing mission complexity. By combining Parrot's trusted ANAFI UKR GOV hardware with DroneSense's operationally proven software, the partnership introduces a new standard in situational awareness, tactical coordination, and Drone as First Responder (DFR) readiness. DroneSense will provide the complete bundle - hardware, software, and aftermarket care - directly to public safety agencies, ensuring fast deployment, reliable support, and uninterrupted mission capability. The ANAFI UKR GOV drone features encrypted communications through local radio and 4G/5G cellular networks. Its advanced navigation capabilities enable precise flight even in GNSS-denied environments, using visual inertial odometry and AI-enhanced geo-positioning to calculate position and velocity in real-time. The drone also includes a LoRa backup radio for secure communications if primary links are lost or jammed. Blue UAS-approved and NDAA-compliant, the ANAFI UKR GOV is ultra-portable at just 2.1 pounds (959 grams) and can be airborne in under 120 seconds. Equipped with 35x zoom, 4K HDR video, and FLIR Boson thermal imaging (640 x 512 px), the drone delivers superior mission coverage. Its advanced target recognition and tracking features enable autonomous object detection, identification, and following with minimal pilot input. The platform also offers remote antenna capabilities for tactical operations and open-architecture integration via Parrot SDK 8. The DroneSense software platform provides situational awareness by combining video streaming, integrated mapping, and sensor data. Its DFR-ready capabilities support remote operations, including Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) technology and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight. The intuitive mission management interface allows rapid deployment, collaborative planning, and multi-agency coordination. DroneSense's hardware-agnostic design ensures compatibility with multiple drone platforms, while its enterprise-grade cybersecurity infrastructure ensures compliance, privacy, and data protection. 'Public safety agencies urgently need capable and reliable drone hardware solutions for a variety of mission profiles,' said Chris Eyhorn, CEO of DroneSense. 'Together, we're delivering a compelling alternative - combining Parrot's advanced hardware with DroneSense's mission-proven, hardware-agnostic platform.' 'DroneSense's software platform perfectly complements the Parrot ANAFI UKR GOV micro UAV, significantly enhancing its operational capabilities for U.S. Public Safety Agencies,' added Chris Roberts, Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at Parrot Drones. 'This integration sets a new standard for secure and effective drone operations, supporting mission success across complex operational environments.' Public safety and government agencies interested in exploring this integrated solution can request demonstrations by contacting [email protected]. About DroneSense: DroneSense provides industry-leading software solutions enabling public safety agencies to leverage drone technology for tactical operations, situational awareness, and Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs. Its hardware-agnostic platform empowers first responders with real-time intelligence, streamlined workflows, and comprehensive mission support. Learn more at About Parrot: Parrot is Europe's leading group in the field of professional micro-UAVs and 3D mapping solutions. The Group designs, develops, and markets a complementary range of high-performance micro-UAVs and photogrammetry software, serving both operational and analytical needs of security forces, industrial operators, and public authorities worldwide. Founded in 1994 by Henri Seydoux, Chairman, CEO, and main shareholder, Parrot is headquartered in Paris with manufacturing in the U.S. and South Korea. Parrot employs over 400 people and serves customers in more than 50 countries. Parrot is listed on Euronext Paris (FR0004038263 - PARRO). Learn more at and Media Contacts: DroneSense: [email protected] | +1.512.582.0444 Parrot: Contact InformationChristine Huoth Sr. Marketing and Communications Manager, DroneSense (512) 582-0444 SOURCE: DroneSense press release

Business Insider
9 hours ago
- Business Insider
The Ukrainian soldier's best chance against Russia's advanced unjammable drones is as low-tech as it gets
The best chance front-line Ukrainian soldiers have against Russia's unjammable drones is less than ideal. Short on options for fighting these drones, soldiers rely on low-tech shotguns to survive. Fiber-optic drones that can't be stopped or thrown off course by jamming and other forms of electronic warfare are becoming increasingly prolific in this war, and bringing one down requires physically shooting it down. Vitalii Pervak, the CEO of Karlsson, Karas & Associates, a drone training school in Ukraine, told BI that "the best way to counter drones is to have a kinetic impact on them." He said that given how fast the front lines change, Russia's electronic warfare efforts, and Ukraine's regular shortages, "a shotgun is the best option." Dimko Zhluktenko, a drone operator with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said his unit always has a 12-gauge shotgun with them as standard protocol on every mission for this reason. When it comes to fiber-optic drones, he has been trained and told by other soldiers that a shotgun is "the most reliable way to shoot down a drone if it's using the fiber optic" cables. Even with regular drones that can be stopped with electronic warfare, success isn't always guaranteed. If electronic warfare doesn't work, "then the last resort that you have is the shotgun." There is a "drone with explosives flying into you, and you can't jam it," Zhluktenko said. "So, you shoot it down." Fiber-optic drones Fiber-optic drones have a long, thin cable attached to them that allows them to maintain their connection, relying on that instead of a radio frequency that is vulnerable to interference. With the rise of drone warfare in Ukraine came a rush to develop countermeasures. Electronic warfare has been effective at stopping more conventional drones, but now fiber-optic drones and AI-enabled drones are becoming more prevalent. 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. Igor Belov, the founder of PSS by Logics7, a Ukrainian company that makes weapon training simulators, told BI that it is working on a simulator to train soldiers on using shotguns to shoot down regular first-person view drones and fiber-optic drones. The company is already training soldiers with its simulators to face drone threats like drone swarms and low-flying drones. "We are developing products that our army truly needs," he explained, adding that "our first priority is to ensure they function effectively under real battlefield conditions." "All of our solutions are designed based on direct feedback from military personnel, with one clear goal — to have a real impact on the battlefield and to help save lives," Belov said. More than 60,000 soldiers have been trained on Logic7's systems. Dmytro Martsilenko, the press officer for Ukraine's 33rd Assault Regiment, was much less certain on the value of guns against drones. "There is not enough data to assess the effectiveness of using a shotgun against drones. Because there is not enough experience," he said. "Nevertheless, they are already practicing using shotguns against drones at training grounds," he added. "And EVERY unit is equipped with a shotgun." Another Ukrainian drone operator, who spoke to BI on the condition of anonymity, said his unit has a 12-gauge shotgun for shooting down drones if needed. The drone fight Drones are being used more in Russia's war against Ukraine than in any other conflict in history, and they are used to gather intelligence, explode on target, launch grenades, and direct fire for other weaponry crews. The extensive use of drone technology has created a challenging battlespace, with so many in the air that soldiers can't always tell which side they belong to. There are conventional quadcopters and octocopters, fiber-optic drones, AI-enabled drones, loitering munitions, and more being deployed in this fight. For some, the answer is as simple as a shotgun. For others, it's electronic warfare. In some cases, a heavy machine gun can bring one down. And then, there are drones that require interceptors, which can be costly. For instance, Ukraine operates a limited supply of high-end air defense systems, but employing a multi-million-dollar interceptor at a drone that costs only tens of thousands of dollars isn't sustainable. The Ukrainians have been increasingly using drones as cheaper intercept alternatives. But for the front-line, tactical drone fights, Ukrainian soldiers are keeping their low-tech shotguns close at hand.