Since September, Ukrainian air defenses shot down 540 Iranian drones and 500 cruise missiles – ZSU
The press center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that since September, when Russia began attacks with the help of Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones, the country’s anti-aircraft forces have already shot down more than 540 such drones, as well as about 500 cruise missiles.
This is reported by CNN with reference to the military media center and Ukrinform. The message of the Ukrainian military also states that in the first two hours of 2023, Ukrainian air defenses shot down ‘100% of drones, namely 84 units.’
On Wednesday, representatives of the Air Force of Ukraine also commented on the publication of the American newspaper The New YorkTimes, in which it was said that the missiles used to shoot down drones are seven times more expensive than launching the drone itself.
“It’s clear that the missiles that are being used are NASAMS, Iris-T are expensive missiles… Are we going to use them or are we going to put a fighter in the sky to shoot down the Shaheds? It’s expensive, but we will. It’s about life, about preserving critical infrastructure and objects that can be hit by a kamikaze drone,’ Air Force official Yuriy Ignat said on Ukrainian TV.
He called it incorrect to compare the cost of missiles and a drone, since a strike by a drone carrying up to 40 kg of explosives can cause significant damage and lead to the death of people.
CNN also reported that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, parts manufactured by more than a dozen American and Western companies were found inside one Iranian Shahed-136 drone shot down in Ukraine in the fall.
