Soldiers from the Ukrainian National Guard’s Lasar’s Group strike drone unit shot down a Russian ZALA Z-20 reconnaissance drone at an altitude of 21,000 feet, marking one of the highest successful drone interceptions recorded by Ukrainian forces. National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko announced the interception on Facebook on July 29 and released combat footage of the operation.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to Pivnenko, the interceptor crew detected the Russian ZALA Z-20 reconnaissance drone over southern Ukraine in late July. The drone is designed for aerial surveillance and target acquisition at distances of more than 100 kilometers (62 miles). Attempting to evade the Ukrainian interceptor, the Russian drone climbed to an altitude of 21,000 feet. “However, that did not prevent our crew from completing the mission. The pilot caught up with the target and successfully destroyed it,” Pivnenko said. He said the interception demonstrated the high level of training of National Guard personnel, the effectiveness of modern drone systems, and their ability to complete combat missions under challenging conditions. Pivnenko added that the engagement ranks among the highest-altitude successful interceptions of an enemy drone.
Ukraine Downs Russian ZALA Recon Drone at Record Altitude of 21,000 Feet
Its ability to operate at high altitudes, often beyond the reach of many counter-drone systems, has made the ZALA Z-20 one of Russia’s most difficult reconnaissance UAVs to intercept.
387 words~2 min read
