Moscow Launches Nightly Drone-Interception Leaderboard, Crowns First 'Sky Defender of the Week'
After officials touted a record number of downed drones, the city has begun ranking its air-defense units like a sports league.
Following the announcement that hundreds of drones were intercepted in a single night, city officials have unveiled a new evening broadcast segment ranking air-defense batteries by their nightly totals, complete with a glowing trophy shaped like a radar dish.
The top-performing unit each week receives the title "Sky Defender," a laminated certificate, and a brief on-air interview in which a spokesperson thanks "the fans at home" for their continued belief in the program.
Analysts on the broadcast now break down interception totals the way sportscasters discuss batting averages, debating whether a particular battery is in a "slump" or simply facing a tougher schedule of incoming drones.
Officials say the leaderboard is meant to boost morale, though some viewers have complained that the pregame introductions, complete with pyrotechnics and a rotating spotlight, run a little long given what the broadcast is actually about.
A merchandise line is reportedly in development, though officials have not said whether the interception scoreboard will pause during nights when the refinery segment of the broadcast runs instead.