Report: Russia expands use of jet drones against Ukraine

Russian forces have been targeting Ukraine with drones powered by jet engines. A media report suggests that the pace of those attacks is sharply increasing.

Reuters published a report on the issue based on data from the Ukrainian military. It said jet-powered drones can reach speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour, which makes them harder to intercept. Russian forces reportedly used about 2,850 of them last month. That figure is more than six times the number that they used in June. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NHK in an interview that his forces can intercept more than 90 percent of other types of drones. However, he said the interception rate for jet-powered drones is just about half that.

He added that they are rushing to develop new, more-effective drone interceptors. He posted on social media on Thursday that recent tests had achieved a successful "downing."