Ukrainian Soldier Downs 24 Shahed Drones in One Night, Setting New Record

Ukraine has set a new record for downing Shahed drones by a single soldier: in one night, a serviceman from the 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment destroyed 24 kamikaze drones.

The Wild Hornets team, which produces STING interceptor drones, shared more details about the achievement.

The record was set by a soldier with the callsign Miguel, who serves in the 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment.

The team also announced a reward for anyone who manages to break this record: 35 STING interceptors and three ground stations.

After the initiative ends, participants with the best overall results will receive:

• 1st place: 20 STING interceptors and one ground station
• 2nd place: 10 STING interceptors and one ground station
• 3rd place: 5 STING interceptors and one ground station

All drone shootdowns carried out by a single person within one day, from September to December, will be counted.

In early November, it became known that Ukraine had launched mass production of STING interceptor drones and established a training center for their operators.

The STING project had been in development for over a year, with the goal of creating a mass-produced, simple, and affordable interceptor to counter Shahed drones.

The system can be deployed in under 15 minutes. The drone launches from any flat surface without a catapult, gains altitude within seconds, and quickly intercepts its target.

If necessary, it can be redirected to another target or the launch can be canceled if no object is detected or if it has been destroyed by another means.

The STING is a quadcopter of a classic design with a large central dome that houses the warhead and camera. Its stated effective range for engaging Shahed drones is up to 25 kilometers.

To train operators, the Wild Hornets team has established the Night Hornets training center. The training course lasts up to three days, as the STING is very easy to operate.