Russia preparing to launch «Shahed» drones around the clock: Ukraine’s NSDC reveals countermeasures

Russia is seeking to move to a more intensive regime of launching «Shahed"-type drones around the clock, a plan it has been preparing since 2025, said Andrii Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and a lieutenant in the Defence Forces.

Russia had accumulated resources for the current attacks but has not yet managed to sustain a stable launch intensity, he said.

Kovalenko added that Russia’s actions indicate an intention to continue targeting Ukraine’s rear regions. The agressor is also seeking to expand its military-industrial capacity to a level that could overwhelm European air defense systems in the event of attacks on NATO facilities.

«The destruction of Russian production capabilities, supply chains and operational capacity must become a priority not only for Ukraine. It is regrettable that, even in 2026, this is still not understood by all democracies,» Kovalenko said.