Ukrainian forces have already destroyed over 300 Iranian drones. In the near future, Ukraine expects to strengthen its air defence with two NASAMS batteries to destroy enemy missiles and drones, Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat has said at a briefing, an LB.ua correspondent reports.
"It was announced that Russia ordered at least 2,000-2,500 Shaheds from Iran. It is likely that Shaheds have already been used in sufficient quantities. According to our data, more than 400 have already been used. More than 300 have been destroyed by our air defence and other means... Tonight, six more Shaheds were destroyed, three of which were destroyed by the aviation of the Air Command East in Dnipropetrovsk Region and three more by the territorial defence in Poltava Region. Unfortunately, there were several hits," he said.
Ihnat stressed that Russia started using fewer Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles.
"Perhaps, some of them have not been delivered yet. Another part has not yet been assembled, brought to combat capacity and delivered to the launch sites. Perhaps, in the end, they are saving in order to deliver more massive strikes. Perhaps weather conditions affect their use... Perhaps there are other reasons that the enemy has," he suggested.
Ihnat also stressed that Ukraine continues negotiations with Western partners on the supply of various types of weapons to destroy enemy UAVs.
"When a decision is made and they are put into service, it will be reported," he said.
Ihnat also announced that Ukraine would soon receive two batteries of the Norwegian NASAMS air defence system. One battery has up to nine launchers.
"So far we have one NASAMS from Germany. It feels 'bored' on its own, it needs the help of other Western systems to protect our Ukrainian sky. By the end of the year we are still waiting to receive IRIS-T, which should be provided by the German industry," he said.
Ihnat confirmed that several dozens of the best Ukrainian pilots with combat experience have already been selected and are ready to take part in exercises in Western countries at any time to strengthen our air defence and aviation.