**Ukraine’s Air Defense Gets a Boost**
The situation in Ukraine is getting more complex by the day. Despite receiving help from its partners, Russia continues to launch daily air attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure.
These attacks have been ongoing since October 2022, with a focus on disrupting civilian life. But what’s happening is that Ukraine’s ability to defend itself is improving. According to military expert Valerii Riabykh, the head of Defense Express consulting company, Ukraine’s air defense capabilities in major cities have significantly increased.
**More Missiles Intercepted**
In October, only 8% of Russian ballistic and hypersonic missiles were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defense system. But in November, this number jumped to over 40%. Riabykh credits Ukraine’s partners for providing additional air defense systems, such as Patriot and SAMP/T, which have helped improve the country’s ability to counter complex aerial threats.
**Partners Deliver**
Ukraine has received air defense systems from its allies, including NASAMS, IRIS-T, and Hawk MANPADS. These new systems have helped Ukraine’s air defense capabilities grow stronger in large cities like Kyiv.
**Recent Attacks**
Just a few days ago, Russia launched 37 drones against Ukraine, targeting multiple oblasts and causing infrastructure damage. But the Ukrainian air defense was able to intercept 18 Russian drones across nine oblasts.