Ukraine Says Private Air Defense Unit Downed High-Speed ‘Jet Shahed’ Drone

Jet-powered drones travel at higher speeds, making them a lot more difficult to intercept than standard, propeller-driven Shahed drones powered by small two-stroke engines. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied A photograph taken on December 27, 2025 shows an Iranian-designed Shahed 136, (Geranium-2) drone used by Russian Army flying over Kyiv during a Russian drones and missiles attack, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.(Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Friday, April 17, that a private air defense unit had for the first time shot down a high-speed “jet-powered” Shahed-type drone. The interception took place in the Kharkiv region, where privately operated air defense groups are being deployed to help protect critical infrastructure. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . According to Fedorov’s Telegram update , the drone was traveling at speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour (around 249 miles per hour), making it significantly more difficult to intercept than standard Shahed drones. “This is a new level of complexity,” Fedorov said, adding that Russia is scaling up the use of faster and more advanced drones. Ukraine has been developing a system of so-called “private air defense” units to supplement its military capabilities. These groups, currently being formed at 19 enterprises, are integrated into the Air Force’s command system and operate as part of Ukraine’s broader air defense network. The selected staff receive military training, while air defense systems and ammunition are temporarily transferred to enterprises on a case-by-case basis. The initiative, which started in early March , aims to rapidly expand defensive capabilities without placing additional strain on frontline military units. In late March, the first company participating in the project managed to shoot down Shahed and Zala drones in the Kharkiv region. Other Topics of Interest White House Delays Weapons Deliveries to Europe as Iran War Drains Stockpiles The Trump administration is delaying weapons deliveries to European allies as its war with Iran strains stockpiles already depleted by support for Israel. Fedorov said the next phase of the project will focus on scaling up operations to increase interception rates and improve response times. On March 25, Fedorov said that Ukraine’s tech cluster Brave1 – a one‑stop hub for defense innovation in the country – has launched a new €10 million ($12 million) competition alongside NATO to develop technology to counter drones and improve navigation under electronic-warfare conditions. The program, called UNITE – Brave NATO, is carried out in collaboration with the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA). It focuses on urgent battlefield needs, as drone attacks and signal jamming continue to play a major role in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Yuliia Zavadska is a news writer at Kyiv Post. She has experience in breaking news coverage, fact-checking, and digital journalism, with a focus on fast, accurate reporting and clear storytelling. Before joining Kyiv Post, she worked as a news feed editor for several leading Ukrainian media outlets.