Deputy Prime Minister Borisov appeared on Channel One to discuss Russia’s laser weapons and their role in Ukraine. He stated that a new generation of laser systems has begun to produce thermal damage, burning targets at close range. He indicated that these devices are advancing to the point where they can naturally engage a variety of drone classes from distances up to five kilometers. He suggested that the first examples are already in use in Ukraine and that the program is moving toward wider deployment [Source: Russian government briefings].
Borisov attributed the capabilities to the Zadira complexes. He emphasized that using Zadira helps conserve expensive missiles like the Shell and Tor weapons systems by providing an alternative means of neutralizing aerial targets. He noted that Zadira is produced in near-serial quantities and has shown favorable results in testing, including demonstrations at five kilometers where unmanned vehicles were burned within five seconds. The specifics of the testing scenario were not elaborated by the deputy prime minister [Source: defense ministry summaries].
In addition to Zadira, Russian forces are receiving the Peresvet laser systems, an earlier development. Borisov claimed that Peresvet can affect satellite reconnaissance in orbits up to about 1,500 kilometers, suggesting that Peresvet’s role is overshadowed by the newer system in certain respects [Source: official statements]. He indicated that Peresvet deployments occurred on the backdrop of the new technology without stating a direct Ukraine link. Military analysts have offered cautious interpretations. Alexei Leonkov, editor of Arsenal of the Fatherland, argued that deploying Peresvet in Ukraine would be unlikely for strategic reasons, likening it to a misplaced shot at a sparrow from a ball [Source: interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda].
From Peresvet to Zadira: How Russia Has Built Laser Capabilities
Peresvet entered service gradually, with commissioning beginning in 2017 and broadsy described in President Vladimir Putin’s 2018 address. Putin hinted at notable progress in laser weapon development, noting that the work has practical implications for national security. He added that while details were not all disclosed, experts would recognize the expansion of Russia’s combat capabilities as a result of these systems [Source: presidential remarks].
Subsequent official reports indicated that Russian scientists learned to concentrate energy needed to destroy enemy forces in an extremely brief time frame. The public narrative suggested that laser weapons, once a staple of science fiction, are now a tangible part of modern warfare, with these systems entering service in earnest [Source: defense ministry releases].
In late 2018, Putin affirmed the practical application of Peresvet, noting that the military began experimental combat missions with these lasers. A few years later, there were reports from Kommersant regarding Syria where unmanned aerial vehicles were reportedly neutralized using laser technology in combat conditions [Source: official coverage and defense ministry briefings].
Experts such as Igor Korotchenko of TsAMTO have observed that Peresvet is most effective under favorable weather, noting energy demands and the need for robust power sources to sustain field deployment. He pointed out that adverse conditions can limit effectiveness, while the broader narrative asserted ongoing development and testing of laser systems for aerial and optical targets. The defense ministry has indicated ongoing work on a separate laser weapon aimed at unmanned aerial vehicles and other enemy optical and electronic means, though details about this unnamed system have not been disclosed [Source: industry analysis and ministry communications].
As for Zadira, less is publicly known about its full history. In August 2017, the Ministry of Defense reportedly ordered the development of the Zadira-16 complex to operate on new physical principles, with the state contract awarded to the Russian Federal Nuclear Center, part of Rosatom. This background highlights a long-running effort to diversify Russia’s laser capabilities and to integrate them into broader strategic plans [Source: defense procurement records].
Overall, Russia’s laser weapons program is portrayed as a shift from experimental potential to practical capabilities, with public statements emphasizing the ability to neutralize drones rapidly and with reduced reliance on traditional missiles. The narrative stresses ongoing testing, serial production, and evolving deployment across theaters, alongside expert caution about weather, power requirements, and the limits of current battlefield conditions [Source: official releases and expert commentary].