At an on-the-record meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) chief Vasyl Maliuk said Russia’s most effective air-defense asset is the Pantsir surface-to-air missile and gun system - a frequent target for Ukrainian strikes. He added that these systems are particularly effective against Ukraine’s long-range drones.
But, he said, Russia’s losses now exceed its output. Since the start of 2025, Ukraine’s Defense Forces have destroyed 48% of Pantsirs, while Russia produces about 30 such systems annually. Maliuk called degrading Pantsirs a priority in the war.
“The enemy, we admit, has very strong air defenses. And the system that works best against our long-range drones is their Pantsir. From the start of 2025 to today, we have destroyed 48% of the Pantsirs,” Maliuk said, calling the numbers critical for Russia.
Maliuk also said that the summer before last, SBU and Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR) special operators eliminated one of the three “Oreshnik” sites at the Kapustin Yar range in Russia’s Astrakhan region. The operation was not publicized but was successful. Besides Ukraine’s president, leaders of several other countries were informed.
