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Russia has not reduced its use of drones against Ukraine but is instead shifting the emphasis between drone and missile attacks while maintaining near-constant aerial pressure, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said, UATV English reports.
Speaking on national television, Ihnat responded to a recent assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggesting that Russia has recently relied less heavily on drones.
“I would not say they are using fewer drones. They are indeed placing greater emphasis on ballistic missiles, understanding the challenges we face with interceptor missile supplies, but they continue attacking every night and now during the daytime as well. If that is the enemy’s objective, drones can be used around the clock,” Ihnat said.
He noted that the burden on Ukraine’s Defense Forces remains extremely high. After launching around 150 drones overnight, Russia is capable of sending another hundred or more during the day, requiring continuous air defense operations.
“Both personnel and equipment become exhausted because the fight for Ukraine’s skies never stops. There is no room to relax,” he said.
According to Ihnat, Russia regularly shifts the focus of its strikes depending on operational objectives, alternating between drones and missiles rather than reducing the overall scale of aerial attacks.
He also stressed that the daily statistics released by the Ukrainian Air Force do not include tactical and operational-tactical drones such as the Lancet loitering munition or Molniya UAVs, which are reported separately by the General Staff.
His comments come as Russia continues to diversify its aerial attack tactics, combining ballistic and cruise missiles with long-range attack drones and other unmanned systems in an effort to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses.
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