Ukraine Sets Up Electronic Warfare Shield Over Kyiv Against Russian Shahed Drones
Ukraine has deployed a network of electronic warfare systems over its capital, Kyiv, to disrupt Russian operators remotely guiding Shahed strike drones. According to presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov, the adversary has been forced to pause and look for other solutions.
Ukraine, which is defending itself against Russia's full-scale invasion, has created a protective dome of electronic warfare (EW) systems over its capital, Kyiv. Its purpose is to interfere with Russian operators who remotely guide Shahed attack drones. The information, reported by the Latvian newspaper Latvijas Avīze, comes from Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president known by the call sign "Flash". Such measures may reduce the accuracy of drone attacks on the city.
How the guided drones work
Russian forces use what is known as Mesh radio communication technology, which lets operators on Russian territory control strike drones remotely. Radio modems are installed on the drones, allowing operators to transmit commands and search for targets. To counter this, Ukraine decided to roll out a network of EW systems over Kyiv that disrupts communication between operators and their drones.
Preparing the operation
Preparations took several weeks. Leading EW system manufacturers were involved and produced and installed the necessary equipment around the clock. Hundreds of sites in Kyiv had to be equipped to host antennas and other hardware.
Participants included the General Staff, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Security and Defence Council, the Office of the President and other structures of the Defence Forces. The operation was complex both technically and organisationally, and the Ukrainian president oversaw its implementation continuously.
Early results
Beskrestnov said the dome has already influenced the behaviour of Russian forces. In his words, the operation forced the adversary to take a pause, upgrade its Shahed drones and look for other solutions. He added that the adversary temporarily stopped using certain technologies.
Interceptor drones
At the same time, Ukraine has developed at least five models of interceptor drones intended to counter Russian jet-powered strike drones. Some of the domestically produced solutions are reportedly showing very high effectiveness in combat. However, their overall effectiveness can only be assessed once they are widely deployed across Ukrainian defence units.
