Kherson Region Serving as Testing Ground for New Drones and Anti-Drone Systems, Says Russian-Installed Governor

The Russian-installed governor of Ukraine's Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said the territory has become a testing ground for new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and anti-drone defense systems, according to Russian state media.

Saldo said a multi-layered defense system designed to counter Ukrainian drones is now fully operational across the region, which has been partly occupied by Russian forces since 2022.

The governor did not provide further technical details about the specific drone models or defense systems being tested, according to the report.

Kherson region has been a frequent site of drone strikes and cross-border attacks since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with both sides reporting regular UAV activity along the front line. Claims made by Russian-installed officials in occupied Ukrainian territory cannot be independently verified.