Sternenko: Far Bigger Threats Lie Ahead Than Jet-Powered Shahed Drones

Ukrainian volunteer Serhii Sternenko, who recently spent six months as an adviser to Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, told Ukrainska Pravda how the country is responding to Russia's jet-powered Shahed drones and what communications risks exist in the war. He believes Ukraine faces even more serious threats than these drones.

Who Sternenko is

Sternenko went from civic activist and popular blogger to one of Ukraine's best-known volunteers. In 2025 he founded the charitable foundation Sternenko Community, which regularly supplies Ukraine's defence forces with drones. Last year the foundation raised UAH 3.1 billion in donations, about US$68 million. His YouTube channel has more than 2 million subscribers.

Countering jet-powered Shaheds

Sternenko says production of jet-powered Shaheds in Russia has been known since the second half of last year, and Ukrainian manufacturers began developing new interceptors then. There are three types: the slowest, Geran-3, which conventional interceptors can shoot down; the faster Geran-4, at around 400 km/h; and the Geran-5, which is more like a missile. Intercepting the Geran-4 and Geran-5 has been the difficult part.

Ukraine is developing electric-powered interceptors that can reach 550–600 km/h, along with more complex and costly turbojet interceptors. In his view, the most promising option is a large multirole jet platform able to carry machine guns, interceptors and small surface-to-air missiles.

Communications and Starlink

Sternenko says Ukraine still leads Russia in using heavy multi-rotor bomber drones. Russia, by contrast, is far ahead in relaying signals through mesh networks on Shahed drones, which allows reconnaissance and strike assessment up to 200 km or more away.

He warns that cutting off Starlink for the Ukrainian army would hamper reconnaissance, command and air defence coordination. Alternatives are therefore needed, including fibre-optic cables. His foundation, together with manufacturers, has deployed a communications solution for FPV drones that he says could partly replace Starlink on medium-range missions.