Ukraine countermeasures to Russia’s modernized Shahed drones

BLUF: Russia has managed to increase the use of Shahed and dummy drones tenfold since last year. Ukraine is now developing its own scanners and software to kneecap these brutal drone attacks more quickly and efficiently.

In other news: Customs reform struggles from a lack of funding due to USAID cuts. Zvook has developed a new detection system to detect drones on optical fiber cables. And Avtor created a new encrypted application for secure messaging. 

THE BIG STORY: How Russia has modernized Shaheds—and how Ukraine is countering them

Every few days, Ukraine comes under attack by Shahed kamikaze drones numbering from a hundred to nearly five hundred [Ed note: including last night]. 

And Russia, which gets these drones from Iran and also produces them domestically, has now upgraded them. 

Since the start of the year, the latest Shahed versions carry warheads of up to 90 kg, a two-fold increase from its original 45 kg, and feature upgraded Kometa satellite navigation systems.

The tactical deployment of Shaheds is also evolving. In May 2025, Russia launched 4,081 Shaheds and dummy drones (Read our coverage on how Ukraine is using dummy drones to strike inside Russia here), over ten times more than it used in May 2024. 

The goal behind such a massive increase was obvious: 82 percent of drones were shot down by Ukrainian forces this May, 12 percent less than the year before. 

These drones now fly either very high, at altitudes above 3-4 km, or extremely low over the ground, close to the roofs of apartment buildings. This complicates timely detection, Danylo, a mobile fire group operator, told Counteroffensive.Pro. He asked us to withhold his full name for security reasons. 

At high altitudes, mobile fire groups with machine guns can’t hit the Shaheds, and when they fly too low, potential reaction time decreases.

Russians also launch drones along riverbeds, where drone detection becomes even more challenging, since water can reflect radar signals and create interference. 

The same applies to acoustic sensors which track incoming drones, as wind and water flow sounds complicate the detection of other noises.

Inside the latest modernization of Shahed drones

According to the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), Russia produces around 170 kamikaze drones daily. Shahed modernization involves both warhead and communication upgrades. 

Thermobaric explosives – when explosive material is first dispersed and only then detonated – are now part of the toolkit. These create a fire cloud with temperatures ranging from 2,400 to 2,600 degrees Celsius.

Inside, the drone uses Kometa, a jamming-resistant antenna module that handles signals from the Global Navigation Satellite System. One Kometa unit contains 6 to 16 communication sources, and 80 percent of those sources must be jammed in order to suppress a drone using electronic warfare. 

With 16 sources, at least 15 must be jammed, meaning more sophisticated electronic warfare strategies need to be used for jamming to be effective, explained Illia Kukharenko, advisor to the Ministry of Strategic Industries on EW and Electronic Intelligence issues.

The CRPA antennas are manufactured in Russia by VNIIR Progress in Cheboksary. Chinese analogs are also used, wrote Serhii 'Flash' Beskrestnov, an expert on military radio technologies. On June 9, Ukrainian drones struck this facility, though it's difficult to assess the scale of damage from the attack.

Shaheds also contain Western components that are difficult to restrict through sanctions. Many of them are civilian-purpose microchips.

“Regarding modernization [of Russian drones], other communication methods are being discovered. These could be SIM cards, Starlink, and so on. Technical resistance to EW systems is changing,” said Yurii Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force.

Ukraine’s counter-response

Ukraine now has numerous startups working to counter Shaheds. Some manufacturers are creating interceptor drones, while others are focusing on AI-based drone detection or virtual training systems.

The Sky Hunter mission control center is a new software system designed to neutralize Russia’s drone warfare. It works in conjunction with radar to detect unmanned aircraft, and it can integrate both detection and strike capabilities.

The system works by detecting enemy drones and immediately recommending strike assets for engagement. The idea is for an autonomous drone to automatically take off and engage the target. 

"The system can scale from local objects to city or regional levels. Next steps include developing a ground station module, field testing, and integration with drones," Serhii Nazarov, CEO of Art Development, told Counteroffensive.Pro.

There is also Panoptes AI — an optical-electronic system with a range of up to 25 square km and a height of 4 km. 

With Panoptes AI, target detection is facilitated by artificial intelligence, which identifies objects and their corresponding coordinates. Coordinates are determined using triangulation, requiring at least two sensors, Dmytro, founder of Panoptes AI, told Counteroffensive.Pro.

The most challenging aspect is predicting drone flight paths, Dmytro said. The company is collaborating with the Kharkiv University of Radio Electronics to solve this problem.

Ukraine has created mobile fire groups to counter Russian drones. These groups use pickup trucks equipped with 7.62 or 12.7 mm caliber machine guns, which are sufficient to engage targets up to 2 km away.

Now, in addition to machine guns, these vehicles typically carry radar and thermal imaging cameras for more effective detection of both reconnaissance drones, and strike drones like the Shahed. 

However, the main armament remains the same, which leads to problems when drones fly too high, said Danylo. Additionally, the Ukrainian army is utilizing fighter jets, as well as Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters, against Shahed drones. 

Ukraine is now actively discussing the implementation of mobile communications jamming at the level of the Verkhovna Rada. During Ukraine’s deep-strike drone attacks, Russians often jam mobile communications so that Ukrainian SIM card-equipped drones can’t connect to local networks, a move that could lead to the loss of drones. 

This issue was discussed by the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Government Communications, and Cryptographic Information Protection of the Verkhovna Rada in June. Among the solutions discussed were:

1. blocking SIM-cards with suspicious characteristics, like those moving at a high velocity, similar to Shahed drones;

2. selling SIM-cards in Ukraine only with an ID (currently, an ID is not required); 

3. turning off the mobile connections in the area of a Shahed attack; 

Further details on the meetings and decisions made were not disclosed due to the sensitivity of the topic.

BUSINESS LUNCH TOPICS: What our reporting shows!

1. Customs reform stalls in Ukraine

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine was to receive a comprehensive customs reform plan by June 17. This deadline was previously agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund and was a benchmark for future programs. 

According to signed laws, the customs reform will include:

• election of a new head of customs in an open competition with foreign specialists and organizations;

• reassessment of all customs service workers in the 18- to 36-month period after the election of the new chairman. They will be tested on their knowledge of laws and integrity;

• the commission will check for complaints against employees;

• introduction of the possibility of rotating customs officers between positions;

• an increase in the level of salaries; and

• monitoring the lifestyle of customs workers.

The reform has encountered several problems – particularly a lack of funding. USAID was supposed to cover 90 percent of the reform before it was dismantled. Now, Ukraine is negotiating with the U.S. and the EU to secure additional funds. 

In addition, the Cabinet hasn't established a commission to appoint the head of the State Customs Service.

"The Cabinet of Ministers has been unable to create a commission to appoint the head of the State Customs Service for four months now – this is simply disgraceful. We've reached out to both the Cabinet and the Ministry of Finance – they tell us various 'stories' there, but the need to reappoint the customs chief and begin rebooting the agency itself is obvious," said Danylo Hetmantsev, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy.

Igor Smelyansky, Commissioner for Customs Reform in the Coordination Group, who was responsible for creating a reform plan, declined to comment on this issue. 

Hetmansev’s assistant informed us that they are unsure whether a reform plan was submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund's deadline for reform implementation has been pushed back to the end of the year, pending funding, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on June 6th. 

At this point, the Ministry of Finance has raised customs officers' salaries by 45 percent and implemented polygraph testing for all employees. The approach to salary calculation has been changed.

The profile law №6490-D was signed in the fall of 2024. Read our detailed analysis on customs reform. 

2. A way to detect fiber optic FPV drones via sound

Ukrainian startup Zvook, which specializes in developing acoustic systems to detect drones and missiles, has unveiled an FPV drone detector. It can detect FPV drones at a range of up to 200 meters. This includes fiber optic drones, which are resistant to electronic warfare and don't emit radio signals.

The system recognizes the drone's sound through a built-in machine-learning program. The sensors are used to build networks that are connected via the Internet or LoRa radio communication technology. This allows them to communicate via radio even in the absence of an Internet connection.

Approximately 100 such sensors have been deployed to frontline units. Still, the detectors face challenges that need to be fixed in future upgrades, with noise and bad weather conditions chief among them.

"Different loud sounds also have a negative impact; they worsen the so-called signal-to-noise ratio for the targets we detect. That's why we don't install acoustic sensors on cars now: the sound of the engine and the sound of air flow negatively affect the effective range of detection,” Maryan Sulym, CEO of Zvook, told Counteroffensive.Pro.

3. New Ukrainian app encrypts files for secure transmission in messengers

The Ukrainian cybersecurity company Avtor has developed a new application, CryptoFiles, which is designed to encrypt and transmit confidential information through open communication channels. It can be used by both the military and government ministries, as well as for civilian purposes.

The app encrypts information before sending it. To transfer a file, users exchange public keys in the app and create a pair. Then, the sender encrypts the file for a specific recipient, and the recipient decrypts it using their key. Even if another person intercepts the file, they will not be able to open it. 

Encryption can be applied to any message, from text to photos or videos, Vasyl Polishchuk, the commercial director of Avtor, explained. They are converted into archived files so that they may be securely sent via messengers like WhatsApp or Signal. The encryption itself does not require access to the Internet or even a mobile connection, and it is then sent via any messenger to the recipient.

Ukrainian orders/legislation we’re tracking: 

By: Oksana Zabolotna

Expanding the Funding Capabilities of the Defence Procurement Agency

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 603 dated May 23, 2025

Why it’s important:
This resolution will enable the DPA to timely and lawfully finance expenses related to the importation/delivery of goods and services. The prompt payment of customs duties is a mandatory condition for the customs clearance of goods. 

Moreover, the ability to make direct payments for logistics, customs brokerage, escort and other services reduces the risk of delays in the execution of state contracts, and enhances transparency and accountability in the use of budgetary funds.

Proposals:

The Defenсe Procurement Agency will be able to make transfers of budgetary funds for:

• payment of customs duties (VAT on imported goods, import duties, excise tax on excisable imported goods);

• payment for logistics, transportation, customs brokerage services, and goods escort services under state contracts.

Link to Defense Tech:

It provides the necessary financial mechanisms for the prompt importation and delivery of high-tech equipment, components, software, and specialized services that are critically important for strengthening the state's defense capabilities. 

Stage: entered into legal force on May 28.

Initiator: Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

ON THE MOVE: Professional movement, promotions and industry news.

Know someone in the defense tech space who has made a professional move? Drop us a line at [email protected]! 

• Roman Avramov became the head of the Ukrainian Security Center, a state-owned enterprise developing secure software. Previously, he was the head of procurement in the state-owned Ukroboronprom. 

• Denys Sviatokum, an expert in the field of dual-use goods who helps develop strategic partnerships and launch international hubs, is now seeking new cooperation opportunities.

• Misha Rudominski has joined the board of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry. He started this new position in February 2025, but only recently announced the move. He is also the co-founder of HIMERA, a producer of encrypted communication systems.

30 SECOND ELEVATOR PITCH:

Anvarix builds advanced drone guidance and secure video transmission systems designed for modern warfare. Their AI-powered module turns any drone into a precision strike platform with no hardware changes, and it’s already in use by frontline units. The multi-channel video protocol ensures uninterrupted visual feeds even under electronic warfare, with intelligent recovery from data loss and efficient use of bandwidth.

“With over 150 systems delivered [to the army], we’re now raising $1M to ramp up production and enter new allied defense markets,” said Olha B., co-founder & CEO of Anvarix Inc.

MUST READS:

• Russia attacked the Ukrainian offices of the U.S. company Boeing, the Financial Times reports. None of the employees were harmed during the bombardment.

• Ukrainian arms manufacturers have received $36 million in preferential loans (5 percent per annum) since the beginning of the year.

• Magura Ukrainian naval drones have begun using AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles. In May, they hit two Russian Su-30 fighter jets. These are newer and more accurate versions than the previous AIM-9M, Kyrylo Budanov, chief of Ukrainian Defence Intelligence, said.

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed two laws exempting fiber optics for UAVs from customs duties and value-added tax, which will help reduce the cost of such drones.

• HIMERA, a manufacturer of encrypted systems, and Tencore LLC, a manufacturer of ground drones, have partnered to develop stable and secure communications for ground robotic systems.

• Russia likely employed a new reactive Shahed-type drone, the 'Geranium-3', in recent attacks on Kyiv, as indicated by the distinctive wreckage. The Russian-made drone has a flight speed of up to 550-600 km/h and is based on Iranian solutions.

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