Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his government has signed contracts to produce one million drones this year.
Zelenskyy made the announcement on Tuesday and said more production will follow within the year. He also said drones are influencing the war in Ukraine’s favor.
The president said Ukrainian forces used more drones than the Russian military in July. He added, “This should be a steady trend at the front.”
Russia sent 89 suicide drones to attack targets in Kyiv and other areas last Wednesday. It was one of the Russian military’s largest-ever drone assaults.
The Ukrainian military on Saturday carried out drone strikes on an airfield, an oil refinery and other targets in southern Russia.
Both countries are focusing efforts on developing and expanding the production of drones as the use of unmanned aerial vehicles is said to be having a significant impact on the war in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government said it will create this year a separate branch of the armed forces devoted to aerial and maritime drones.
Russia had largely relied on Iranian-made suicide drones shortly after it invaded Ukraine. But Moscow is now believed to be working to boost domestic drone production in cooperation with the private sector.