Drone warfare has experienced existential growth during the conflict in Ukraine. Along with new warhead delivery techniques, defense against incoming guided aerial vehicles has become a critical need.
Western nations are actively studying the war in Donbass including offensive, as well as defensive tactics.
Today the Russian military released a video showing a laser downing a Ukrainian drone.
In addition to battlefield operations to achieve success for the Kremlin in the conflict, Moscow has an eye on the arms export market, where they are gaining share.
I agree that the narrative, post drone strike, is meant to have more sway on the future outcome than the actual loss of obsolete planes. NATO's need to have the war maintained under a Trump admin was the impetus for the plan to start with.
The number of western think tank associates contacted for their opinion of the ramifications is another clue its about the narrative. In a half an hour I read nine articles using think tanks or former military representing seven countries.