Ukraine’s Armed Forces are expanding capabilities to counter strike drones like the Shahed and Geran, according to Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Russian forces regularly launch attack drones against Ukrainian cities across the country, hitting infrastructure, energy facilities, and civilian areas. Anti-drone defenses are vital to protect civilians and maintain Ukraine’s operational resilience.

The initiative follows a comprehensive meeting on drone defense, during which Syrskyi outlined the creation of a layered system to protect Ukrainian territory.

“Our joint task is to form more interceptor crews, train additional operators, and provide them with more effective strike systems and radar,” he said.

After the meeting, Syrskyi issued a series of tasks to address gaps and strengthen Ukraine’s UAV-interceptor operations. These include selecting and training personnel for new interceptor crews, forming additional regular units, and improving the performance of interceptor systems and radar coverage.

The Commander-in-Chief emphasized that air defense is a top priority, stating that the effectiveness of Ukraine’s “anti-Shahed” system directly affects the security of the rear areas.