This is, in a way, an admission of weakness from Moscow. Russia has urgently strengthened its air defense in recent days, according to a statement from the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces published this Friday on social networks, citing assessments from military intelligence services.
According to kyiv, Russia has deployed four additional regiments, 24 battalions and 162 air defense batteries to counter Ukrainian strike drones. The Kremlin also decided to strengthen multi-layer air defense coverage around Moscow and Krasnodar.
“The enemy adapts”
“Russia is effectively strengthening its unmanned systems forces by copying Ukrainian solutions – technical, tactical and organizational,” explains Oleksandr Syrskyi in his press release. “The enemy is adapting, looking for new ways to counter our forces. Therefore, we must act faster, more flexible and more technologically.”
This declaration came on the eve of the annual Victory Day parade in Russia, this Saturday, May 9, which in recent years has become a symbolic demonstration of Moscow’s military power and a means of justifying its large-scale invasion of Ukraine. This year, Vladimir Putin chose not to parade the usual armored vehicles or tanks to avoid any enemy attack, and therefore any material losses.
Oleksandr Syrskyi also indicated that the Russian army had increased the deployment of combat drones equipped with turbojet engines. According to him, Moscow plans to produce 7.3 million FPV drones and 7.8 million parts for combat unmanned aerial vehicles in 2026.
“Despite all the challenges, we continue to maintain the initiative and set the pace. Our advantage in FPV drones is growing,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reassured.
