Ukraine claims that it possesses a laser weapon capable of shooting down airborne targets at an altitude of more than 2 kilometres, the country’s drone forces commander said on Monday. The military official, Vadym Sukharevskyi, did not provide any more details in his first official remarks about the existence of the weapon. Reuters was unable to verify his statement.
“Today we can already shoot down aircraft at an altitude of over 2 km with this laser,” he was quoted as saying by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Sukharevskyi said the laser was named the Tryzub – the Ukrainian word for a “trident”, which is a symbol used on the national coat of arms – suggesting it was domestically produced.
In April, former British Defence Minister Grant Shapps said that Britain’s DragonFire laser, which is expected to go into service in 2027, could potentially be used in Ukraine to counter Russian drones.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s allies to provide 10-12 more Patriot air defence systems that he says will fully protect its. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has consistently asked its allies to supply more advanced air defence systems.
“I sometimes do not get it … Everyone understands that an additional 10-12 Patriot systems for Ukraine will ensure life for us and make the war for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin meaningless,” Zelenskyy said after meeting European Parliament officials.
Zelenskyy urged allies to use frozen Russian funds to pay for more Patriots as Ukraine braces for another winter of Russian attacks on its devastated power system.
“Please take the money from Russian assets – 30 billion it will cost. But it will fully close our skies,” Zelenskyy said, without specifying the currency.
The Ukrainian military is struggling with a shortage of Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) for its air defence systems as Russia’s aerial onslaught on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continues unabated. Ukraine is seeking Patriot missile systems that have helped Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s assaults.
Team Bharatshakti
(With inputs from Reuters)
