Russia’s drone strikes expose gaps in Western Ukraine’s defences Zelenskyy’s aide reveals

Some western regions of Ukraine are moving to strengthen their defences against drones following large-scale Russian attacks on the area, Ukrainian presidential technology adviser and technology expert Serhii Beskrestnov said.

Speaking to NV, Beskrestnov said representatives of private companies, territorial communities and local authorities had contacted him after the attacks to seek advice on establishing their own counter-drone capabilities.

“Now many of the western regions are calling me and are already starting to think about protection as well. And I have a question: what were they waiting for so long?” Beskrestnov said.

He said representatives of communities and businesses were asking about drone interceptors, where they could be purchased, how to obtain the necessary permits and how to train operators.

Beskrestnov said significant efforts to counter Shahed drones had already been made in Kyiv and in central and southern Ukraine, while large-scale attacks had caught some western regions unprepared.

“For part of the west, this was unexpected,” he said.

The regions are now considering additional counter-drone measures, including special mobile groups and radar stations, Beskrestnov said.

Western Ukraine came under a major drone attack on September 12-13, with explosions reported in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Lviv, Vinnytsia and other regions.

In Stryi, Lviv region, a Russian Shahed drone struck a residential building but failed to explode. Thirteen people, including a child, were evacuated from a neighboring building. A building near a school was also damaged, while an empty building caught fire after a drone fell on it.

Russian drones struck transport and industrial infrastructure in Ternopil. In Ivano-Frankivsk region, an industrial facility was damaged, and windows in a high-rise building were blown out, with one person injured.

In Khmelnytskyi region, drone debris fell on an industrial site and caused a fire.

The attacks also targeted a petrol station and a passenger train near the Polish border. Recent reporting confirms that drones struck railway infrastructure and a passenger train in the area during the September 12-13 attacks.

By Tamilla Hasanova