Russia attacks Ukraine with jet drones: Why air defense isn’t shooting them down and which cities are at risk

Russia is intensifying its attacks using advanced jet drones. Experimental models have already been used in strikes on Kyiv.

TSN.ua investigates what makes these drones dangerous and whether they can reach Ukraine’s western regions.

The new sound of war: experimental jet-powered drones

According to military expert and retired Lieutenant General Ihor Romanenko, the use of jet drones was recorded by the Ukrainian Air Force during recent enemy raids.

«These are drones powered by jet engines, or, as people have begun calling them, „jet drones.“ They sound different from the now-familiar ‘Shaheds’ that run on internal combustion engines. The appearance of such drones is, unfortunately, a step ahead — an upgrade in aerial attack technology that Russia is constantly pursuing, ” Romanenko told TSN.ua.

The expert adds that similar drones were showcased in Iran as far back as 2023. The Russians have managed to adapt them for their own needs and have started combat testing.

Why are they dangerous?

Jet drones have more powerful engines, allowing them to carry larger warheads and reach altitudes over 4 kilometers. This creates serious challenges for mobile fire teams, whose effectiveness, according to Romanenko, has dropped from 90% to just 30%.

These drones can reach speeds of over 550 km/h, making them unreachable for Ukrainian interceptor drones, which fly at about 330 km/h.

How far can they reach?

The main advantages of these new Russian drones are their speed, high-altitude capability, and ability to carry more than 90 kilograms of explosives. «They’re quite effective tools for aerial attack, ” notes the expert.

However, due to high fuel consumption, jet drones are not yet long-range. When launched from the north, the Russians can reach Kyiv.

«For now, these drones don’t pose a threat to western regions of Ukraine, but I believe it’s only a matter of time, ” Romanenko adds.

How can we counter this new threat?

The expert points out that Ukraine still hasn’t resolved the issue of mass «Shahed» attacks, and now faces an additional problem — jet drones.

According to Ihor Romanenko, Ukraine must quickly address the situation by scaling up the production of interceptors, taking into account the emergence of jet drones. He also stresses the need to strengthen the full range of anti-drone measures and expand the formation of voluntary air defense groups.

Will Patriot systems help?

Unfortunately, according to the expert, Patriot systems are not an effective solution against jet drones. «We don’t have enough Patriot systems even to fight ballistic missiles, let alone jet drones, ” he explains, adding that more Patriot systems are only expected to arrive next spring.

What weapons are needed?

Romanenko emphasizes that other tools are necessary to counter this new threat. He highlights two main directions:

• Laser weapons. Their production must be ramped up to effectively shoot down jet drones.

• Long-range anti-aircraft artillery. For example, upgraded Skynex systems.

The military expert concludes that while the Russians are not yet able to use jet drones on a massive scale, they represent a significant future threat, and the confrontation will last until the end of the war.

Interceptor missiles

Romanenko points out that Russian jet drones can be shot down, and the key solution, in his view, is to develop interceptor missiles.

«They must be cheap and mass-produced, and capable of reaching speeds over 700 km/h. Work on such missiles is already underway in cooperation with Western partners. These missiles should be able to take down not just jet drones but also guided aerial bombs used by Putin’s army. According to experts, combat testing of such missiles is expected by the end of this year, ” says Ihor Romanenko.