Ukraine has 67 companies working to shoot down Russia’s jet-powered drones en masse, Zelenskyy says. Only three to five have real results

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine currently has 67 companies focused on developing technology to intercept Russia's fast jet-powered drones en masse. The Ukrainian leader made the announcement during a press conference in Kyiv alongside U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Most of these companies are still in the early stages of development, with only a few having produced working systems.

The urgency of the situation has intensified as Russia has ramped up the use of its Geran jet-powered drones over the summer. These drones now operate both during the day and night, causing frequent air-raid alerts in Kyiv. One of the primary challenges now is that the speed of these drones surpasses the capabilities of older mobile gun teams that were previously effective against slower models.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the development of these interceptors is seen as a backup plan, labeled as "Plan B." He stressed that while this defensive approach is crucial, the main priority remains diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation from Russia. The U.S. envoys are actively engaged in a peace push in Kyiv, but no breakthrough has been announced thus far.

Addressing the broader defensive capabilities of Ukraine, Zelenskyy identified anti-ballistic defense as a weak point. He mentioned that he would raise this concern in upcoming meetings in Norway and Canada. Additionally, he highlighted that the United States plans to increase the production of Patriot interceptors next year, while Germany is expanding its own output under existing licenses.

The threat of Russian attacks on Kyiv is significant, with each strike costing the city's budget approximately $12 million. Over 4,000 buildings have been damaged by Russian strikes, leading to substantial repair bills and human losses. Meanwhile, Ukraine is also stockpiling food and water as Russia's new aerial tactics pose a serious threat, particularly during the upcoming brutal winter.