Near Kharkiv, Private Air Defense For The First Time Shot Down A "Shahed" At A Speed Of 400 Km/h

• 17.04.2026, 14:51

The next challenge is scaling the project and the results.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov wrote in his Telegram channel about the development of the private air defense project.

"This is a new level of complexity: the enemy is scaling up the use of jet drones - faster and more difficult to intercept. On the president's assignment, we are systematically building multi-level air defense and strengthening the defense of the sky.

The private air defense group in Kharkiv Region is actively shooting down shaheds, in particular, the first shooting down of a jet drone was recorded," Fyodorov said.

One of the elements of this system is private groups strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure. The goal of the project is to rapidly scale capabilities without putting additional strain on combat units.

"Currently, 19 enterprises are forming private air defense groups. They are embedded in the Air Force's unified control system and work as part of the overall air defense architecture.

The next step is to scale the project and the results: more targets shot down and faster response to threats," Fyodorov writes.