Russia has started using a new drone tactic in Ukraine. Russian Shahed kamikaze drones have begun performing complex maneuvers mid-flight in an apparent attempt to evade Ukrainian interceptor drones, according to electronic warfare expert Serhii Beskrestnov, also known as Flash.
Ukrainian interceptor drones are the country’s most advanced weapon for defending against Russian drones. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set a clear goal for domestic manufacturers: ensure the capacity to deploy at least 1,000 such interceptors daily to protect Ukrainian cities and military targets.
“Shaheds have started executing a set of complex in-flight maneuvers aimed at reducing the effectiveness of our aerial interceptor drones,” explains Beskrestnov.
According to him, the Russian military has long been preparing to counter Ukrainian interceptors, and this new drone approach is only the beginning.
Ukraine prepares to strike back
Despite the new threat, the expert assures that Ukraine is actively improving its own interception technology.
In the first half of 2025, 6,754 civilians in Ukraine were killed or injured, the highest number for a six-month period since 2022, the UN reports. In July alone, Russia launched at least 5,183 long-range munitions at Ukraine, including a record 728 drones on 9 July. Kyiv and the port city of Odesa have been hit hardest in recent weeks.
“We will keep working on countering their tech with ours. You didn’t really think the enemy would abandon its most widespread weapon so easily, did you?” the expert says.
A technological fight unfolds
Shaheds remain one of the main threats to Ukraine’s rear, making the development of interceptor drones a key component of defense. As the situation shows, the air war is entering a new phase, the one where each side upgrades its unmanned systems in real time.