Ukraine Blasts 20+ Hidden Drone Shelters in Crimea as Interceptor Reach Jumps to 30 km

Ukraine has struck drone hangars at the Hvardiiske airfield in Crimea, hitting a site identified by open-source intelligence as housing more than 20 bermed shelters, according to Ukrainian officials. The base launches Shahed-type drones from vehicles on its runway and had appeared repeatedly on Ukraine's target lists in October [1].

The open-source intelligence channel Dnipro Osint reported the sheltered facilities at the airfield, which Ukrainian forces targeted in the strike [1].

Separately, a Ukrainian-made 4-watt video link has passed state tests and could extend the range of STING interceptor drones from 20 km to 30 km, its manufacturer Wild Hornets said. The 30 km figure is the company's own estimate, first given in August, and assumes a clear line of sight between the drone and its operator. Testers checked three types of drones during the trials [2].

The developments come as Ukraine's military says it is intercepting nearly 60% of Russia's Geran-4 jet-powered drones, with the rate reaching 80% during some attacks. Kyiv is racing to counter the evolving threat using F-16 fighter jets, Mirage jets, mobile fire groups, and interceptor drones [3].

Ukraine's interceptor crews have destroyed thousands of Russian aerial targets, according to a battalion commander. The unit's work has stopped Russian forces from tracking Ukrainian troop movements and striking advancing soldiers, though jet-powered Shahed drones remain a serious challenge for Ukraine's air defenders [4].

Russia's jet-powered drones have made several of Ukraine's defense methods useless, but air defense soldiers near the front line have developed tactics to fight the Kremlin's newest weapon [5].

The cost of shooting down cheap Russian jet-powered drones is draining millions of dollars per interception, Ukraine's top war charity has warned. The Serhii Sternenko Foundation says Moscow's jet drones now fly like small cruise missiles, forcing Ukraine to fire costly air-defense missiles at low-cost targets. Each downed drone can cost between $25,000 and $4 million — a price gap Russia exploits with every launch. The foundation argues the only sustainable answer is to deploy cheaper, scalable countermeasures rather than chasing these drones with expensive interceptors [6].