Kyiv’s AI Turrets Provide ‘Last-Level’ Protection, Defense Advisor Says

Kyiv’s newly introduced automatic AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) turret-mounted machine guns aided by artificial intelligence (AI), provide limited protection and should not be seen as comprehensive protection for the capital, a presidential advisor said on Wednesday. The city began deploying the turrets in October following Russian attacks on the city’s bridges, with the Ukrainian Air Force touting their success in downing jet-powered drones.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. But Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov, an electronic warfare analyst and government advisor, said they provide only limited protection in their current iteration. “It is important to understand that a machine gun turret is not a ‘city-level’ defense, but a ‘site-level’ defense. For example, a warehouse, a production facility, a bridge, an electrical substation,” Beskrestnov wrote on Facebook. State media Ukrinform noted that about 12 are deployed around Kyiv at present, with another eight planned, citing previous comments from President Volodymyr Zelensky. Beskrestnov likened the turrets to the “last level of defense” when other means fail to intercept the incoming Russian drones. “The range of protection is primarily determined by the characteristics of the machine guns,” he continued. “The turret does not replace the main means of air defense; the turret is the last level of defense when the drone has overcome all others.” Other Topics of Interest New €1.2 Billion EU Defense Package Arrives as Ukraine Faces Funding Uncertainty Delays in parliament’s approval of reform legislation are complicating efforts to secure additional international financing needed to cover Ukraine’s budget and defense needs through 2026. Similar turrets were fielded on the front line before being introduced to Kyiv in recent weeks, as Russia escalates its drone campaign on the city. According to the Ukrainian Air Force on Wednesday, September has seen a record number of jet-powered drones launched against Ukraine at 3,500 – a 10-fold increase compared to June. The same month also saw intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, ranging from passenger trains to gas stations, with data centers and residential buildings in central Kyiv also targeted – a relative rarity in the more than four-year war. US-made F-16s have taken on bigger roles in intercepting the jet-powered drones in recent weeks, with Kyiv seeking additional 20mm cannon rounds to help down the drones. Zelensky also vowed to soon scale up production of small air defense missiles to complement layered air defenses around Kyiv, though little is known about the project, including the missile type, performance, and planned production numbers. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.