Kyiv city authorities have announced a 260 million hryvnia ($6.2 million) investment in a drone interceptor programme aimed at strengthening the capital’s defence against increasingly frequent Russian aerial assaults.
The initiative comes as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine’s capital, launching hundreds of drones and missiles in sustained nighttime bombardments that have damaged multiple districts.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, confirmed the funding on Friday, stating that the allocation would cover both the purchase of interceptor drones and the establishment of a rapid-response system to counter aerial threats. “These funds will be used not only to purchase equipment, but also to create an effective response system,” Tkachenko wrote on Telegram.
The city also plans to secure additional funding beyond the current budget, though specific figures were not disclosed.
According to Tkachenko, a pilot phase of the drone interceptor program has already demonstrated its value, intercepting nearly 550 Russian drones targeting the Kyiv region over recent months. The programme’s success has prompted further efforts to expand its scope, including the development of mobile interception units and a dedicated training centre for drone operators in Kyiv and its surrounding suburbs.
The growing threat from Russia’s drone and missile campaign has pushed Ukrainian leaders to intensify calls for more air defence support from international allies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised the early successes of domestic interceptor drone technology and said work is underway to scale up production and implementation.
At the Ukraine Recovery Conference held this week, Zelenskyy discussed the importance of advanced air defence systems, including interceptor drones, in meetings with Dutch, German, and American representatives, highlighting the need for foreign investment and technical support.
As Kyiv adapts to an evolving battlefield, the city’s investment in drone defence reflects both resilience and innovation amid one of the most challenging phases of the war.
Melissa Enoch
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