Kyiv strained by Russia's faster jet drones

Russia's new long-range jet-powered drones are straining Kyiv's air defences, flying higher and faster than the conventional attack drones Ukraine has become used to intercepting.

Moscow has launched waves of the drones at the Ukrainian capital in recent weeks, triggering frequent air alerts and disrupting daily life. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attacks on Sunday as a new tactic by Russian President Vladimir Putin and promised a response.

Experts say the drones use Chinese-made aircraft-style mini jet engines and can fly about five kilometres high at 400 to 600 kilometres per hour. That is up to three times faster than earlier drones based on Iran's Shahed models. The newer drones can carry up to 90 kilogrammes of explosives and are about six metres long, with a 5.5-metre wingspan.

Ukrainian military expert Sergiy Zgurets told AFP the drones' altitude and speed put them out of range of Ukraine's current interceptor fleet. A Ukrainian air force spokesman said about 60 percent of the jet-powered drones are destroyed, compared with more than 90 percent of slower, lower-flying drones.

It is estimated that Russia fired 2,800 of the jet-powered drones in August, up from 1,500 in July and a few hundred in June.

The attacks come as Kyiv is also facing more Russian ballistic missile strikes, which have killed dozens since the start of the summer. On Friday, a jet-powered drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine's security services in Kyiv's historic centre in daylight.

Air alerts have at times brought the city close to a standstill. Businesses and institutions often close during alerts, metro service is restricted and some schools have switched to remote learning.

Zelensky convened his military cabinet last week to speed production of faster interceptor drones. He said prototypes exist and work is under way to improve them. Zgurets said Ukraine may need a broader response, including aircraft, surface-to-air systems, electronic warfare and strikes on launch and production sites inside Russia.