How Ukraine broke through Russia’s air defenses
Experts say Ukraine’s large drone swarms are difficult to track and have forced Russia to scramble its air defenses, even as 216 drones were claimed downed nationwide.
- On Thursday, June 18, 2026, Ukraine launched a massive drone swarm at Moscow, forcing Russian soldiers to fire shoulder-mounted air defenses from a busy highway in a chaotic scramble.
- Russian air defense systems were designed to counter conventional missiles and aircraft, not drone swarms, leading Thomas Withington, military sciences fellow at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, to conclude they are 'not fit for purpose.'
- Detecting small drones proves difficult because they lack a 'quality track,' Withington explained, while Ukraine claims it has destroyed 166 Russian 'anti-air elements' since the year began.
- The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Friday morning, June 19, 2026, it downed 216 Ukrainian drones across the country, though footage showed soldiers firing portable weapons near civilian traffic.
- International sanctions have hampered Moscow's ability to develop new air defense systems, and experts warn Russia's defense stockpiles will wear down if Ukraine's large, frequent drone salvos continue.
9 Articles
9 Articles
While a barrage of Ukrainian drones fell on Moscow in the early morning of Thursday, Russia’s response seemed more like a desperate maneuver than a well-planned strategic defense. Videos recorded on the streets of the capital showed flashes of...
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BizTocWhich Tactics Helped Ukraine Break Russian Airspace
Ukraine’s largest drone attack on Moscow since the start of the war has exposed growing vulnerabilities in Russia’s air defense network, according to experts cited by CNN. Videos reviewed by CNN reportedly showed Russian forces responding in a hurried manner, including soldiers firing portable air-defense weapons from a busy highway and a defense missile apparently striking an oil storage facility instead of its intended target. Analysts said th…
How Ukraine broke through Russia’s air defenses
As a barrage of Ukrainian drones descended on Moscow in the early hours of Thursday, Russia’s response appeared more like a scramble, and less like a well-planned strategic defense. Videos from the streets of the capital showed glimpses of the ensuing chaos.
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