Ukraine will establish a new branch of its armed forces tasked with protecting critical infrastructure from Russian aerial attacks, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on 12 February, outlining structural changes to the country’s air defense system.
The move comes amid continued Russian drone and missile strikes and follows recent criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over gaps in short-range air defense.
New branch to take over infrastructure protection
The reform will redistribute responsibilities between existing anti-aircraft missile units and a newly created branch focused specifically on covering key infrastructure sites.
Organizational measures are already underway, including expanding and upgrading interceptor drone capabilities and coordinating with international partners to address shortages of missiles for surface-to-air systems and fighter aviation.
Up to 200 Shaheds a day, 74% interception rate
According to Syrskyi, Russia deploys between 100 and 200 Shahed-type attack drones each day, alongside intermittent large-scale missile and aviation strikes.
Over the past two years, Ukraine’s air defense effectiveness has remained at approximately 74%, Syrskyi said. In many cases, he added, around 70% or more of incoming aerial threats are destroyed, depending on weather conditions and the mix of systems deployed.
Syrskyi described anti-aircraft missile forces as the backbone of Ukraine’s air defense, particularly in adverse weather. When conditions allow, he said, fighter aircraft, helicopters, and interceptor drones are used to strengthen coverage.
Zelenskyy demanded action
The announcement follows Zelenskyy’s 6 February address, in which he said the component responsible for intercepting Shahed-type drones “must operate far more effectively” and ordered personnel changes in Air Force units in several regions.
Zelenskyy warned that uneven defensive coverage was allowing Russian drones to penetrate in some areas, particularly as winter attacks intensified pressure on civilian and energy infrastructure.
He described the Air Force’s performance in certain regions as unsatisfactory and tasked newly appointed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov with directly overseeing improvements to counter-drone defenses. The Air Force commander received additional instructions as part of what Zelenskyy called urgent corrective steps.
The creation of a dedicated infrastructure protection branch signals a broader effort to tighten coordination, address weaknesses exposed by recent strikes, and adapt Ukraine’s air defense structure to the sustained scale of Russia’s aerial campaign.
