«Shaheds» change routes: Aviation expert discusses threats

Russia is adapting its tactics for using strike drones, particularly «Shaheds,» to carry out massive attacks on Ukraine’s civilian objects and infrastructure. Ukraine’s defense forces need to outpace the enemy with engineering solutions.

This was stated by aviation expert and deputy director general of a company producing electronic warfare systems, Anatoliy Khrapchynskyi.

«Shaheds» change attack directions

Khrapchynskyi explained that the emergence of Ukrainian interceptor drones has forced Russia to seek new routes for attacks. According to him, drones may approach from various directions, including from Belarus.

«The enemy will try to change the routes for strikes. The variety of directions requires an increase in the number of assets Ukraine is equipped with,» the expert emphasized.

Why Ukraine needs a new air defense system

According to the expert, the current countermeasures are insufficient: enemy drones are reaching even the western regions of Ukraine. To ensure effective protection, it is necessary to develop a layered air defense system and increase the number of radar stations.

«The problem is global. For example, Russia is deploying its Pantsir systems on metal towers to increase their detection range,» he noted.

How to shoot down «Shaheds»

Khrapchynskyi added that countermeasures should rely not only on new technologies but also on understanding changes in the enemy’s drone tactics. For instance, even a 155-mm howitzer can destroy drones if coordinates are accurately determined and munitions that explode in the air, creating a cloud of shrapnel, are used.

The future of drone countermeasures

The expert emphasized that there is currently no ready-made solution against «Shaheds.» Ukraine must develop new engineering approaches to detect and destroy low-altitude targets, which the enemy may disguise amid the noise of roads, railways, or riverbeds.

«We must move forward, create our own systems, and outpace the enemy to render their tactics ineffective,» Khrapchynskyi concluded.