The fiber-optic drones that laugh at Russian jammers. The $10,000 radars that beat $10-million systems. The netgun quadcopters snatching enemy eyes from the sky. None came from NATO labs — they came from basements, battlefields, and backchannel Zoom calls.

While Ukraine’s allies debated aid packages and tiptoed around “escalation,” a global league of engineers, tinkerers, and combat-tested coders — calling themselves Defense Tech for Ukraine (DTU) — has built a rapid-response tech pipeline their own governments can only dream of.

Putin bet everything on a slow grind to wear Ukraine down. Instead, every second now fuels his worst nightmare: a grassroots tech incubator taking on his billion-dollar systems with garage-built solutions. While global defense giants waste years in development hell, these 150 volunteers deliver life-saving solutions in weeks — and shift the balance where it matters most: Ukraine’s front line.

The geeks who decided Russia had to lose

This volunteer force wasn’t built in boardrooms — it was born in crisis. As Ukraine’s defenders scrambled in the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a handful of pro-Ukrainian veterans, engineers, and foreign tech allies realized crowdfunding a few drones wouldn’t cut it. They needed something faster, smarter — and scalable.

The answer? Build a nimble incubator to support Ukraine’s burgeoning defense industry and help its engineers win a war of attrition with invention—skipping the bureaucracy and contracts to beat traditional arms pipelines by months.

The stakes were existential. Andrii, a drone pilot in Ukraine’s 109th Territorial Defense Brigade, explains that modern war demands rapid tactical shifts and the near-immediate deployment of new technologies, often moving straight from blueprint to battlefield.

Nowhere is this urgency more visible than in drone warfare, where reconnaissance, targeting, resupply, and strike all hinge on real-time aerial dominance.

“Drones play a very big role on the battlefield, more than anything else,” adds Yaroslav, a drone pilot from the 110th Mechanized Brigade.

The war room Putin never saw coming

DTU has become one of Ukraine’s fastest-moving defense incubators — a decentralized network where frontline urgency meets global engineering talent. Its 150 members span European and North American engineers, manufacturers, veterans, donors, and active-duty Ukrainian soldiers — all working to turn battlefield needs into deployable tools at record speed.

There’s no boardroom — just six weekly calls, split between English and Ukrainian, where developers sync directly with end users — soldiers testing their inventions under fire. As co-founder Carl Larson noted, the pressure is real: at one meeting, a member warned that if Ukraine didn’t move fast enough, Russia would field the same idea first.

“The group is dedicated and passionate about helping Ukraine,” says Roy Gardiner, a former Canadian Armed Forces officer and open-source weapons researcher who volunteers with DTU. “Members devote what time they each can.”

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The US veteran who hacked Russia’s jammers

By late 2024, DTU’s work had outgrown the screen. Seven of its American and European members flew to Ukraine to fast-track what they had been building remotely: a high-speed supply chain for battlefield innovation. In a whirlwind of meetings, they linked up with 15 defense manufacturers — including 12 drone makers and three anti-drone developers — along with drone schools, NGOs, military units, and the rising constellation of Ukraine’s wartime engineers.

The results speak for themselves. DTU-backed projects range from drone-mounted netguns to vertical-takeoff bombers and low-cost radar systems. But the breakthrough was a fiber-optic drone control system — a jamming-proof lifeline that beams stable high-definition feeds to the operator.

The concept came from Troy Smothers, a US Marine veteran and founder of the Drone Reaper initiative. DTU helped sharpen the prototype and pushed it to its first confirmed success on the battlefield.

“We gave it away,” says Carl Larson, a DTU co-founder and former soldier in Ukraine’s International Legion. “Now, it’s everywhere.”

By open-sourcing the design and proving it in combat, DTU helped trigger a wave of fiber-guided drone adoption — not just for strikes, but for resupply missions in places too deadly for manned vehicles.

“They used the DTU drone against a target they couldn’t reach due to jamming,” Roy Gardiner adds. “It worked on the first attempt.”

Gardiner notes that DTU played a key role in pushing fiber-optic adoption across Ukrainian units. The tech didn’t stop there: that same fiber-optic system now powers ground drones delivering food, fuel, and ammo to frontline troops — replacing high-risk resupply runs with cable-controlled precision under fire.

The day Kremlin’s engineers stopped sleeping — and killed a HIMARS from 6 miles away

For all its promise, Ukraine’s fiber-guided tech still trails behind Russia’s in both range and reliability. On missions up to 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), Ukrainian drones succeed just 10–30% of the time, climbing to 50% only when using shorter 10 km (6.2 miles) spools.

By contrast, Russian fiber-optic drones boast an 80% success rate over 20 km (12.4 miles) — powered by stronger signal transmitters, superior optical wavelengths, and sharper digital IP cameras that beat Ukraine’s analog setups.

Russia’s edge is also structural. Their drones use thicker, more resilient cables that reduce breakage mid-flight. Ukraine’s platforms often rely on ultra-thin 0.25 mm (0.01 inch) fiber — lighter, but far more prone to failure.

“The enemy is using fiber-optic drones more extensively than we are,” says Roman Kostenko, Ukraine’s MP and secretary of the parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence

To make the competition worse, the Kremlin is scaling fast. Moscow has begun mass-producing the Knyaz Vandal (KVN) drone — a fiber-guided platform with near-total immunity to jamming, 1 Gbps data transmission, and a reported 95% hit rate. It can carry up to 20 km (12.4 miles) of cable, though even 10 km (6.2 miles) adds 2.3 kilograms (5.1 pounds), limiting its agility.

Despite its limits, it’s still lethal enough. In one recent strike, a KVN drone flew more than six miles (9.7 km) behind the front line and destroyed High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers — one of Ukraine’s most prized US-supplied artillery systems.

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Ukraine’s own drones crash Putin’s $7-billion “red lines” aircraft — while Russia fights them back with sticks

Kyiv’s response: bomb the factory copying your garage

Ukraine is innovating fast — but to stay ahead in the drone war, it needs all the help it can get. Much of that help still comes from outside formal structures, through agile volunteer networks that move faster than any bureaucracy.

“When something is urgently needed, you call your volunteer contacts and they’ll bring you everything, and often even more than you asked for,” says Danylo, a drone pilot from Ukraine’s 108th Territorial Defense Brigade.

As Kyiv races to scale its own fiber-guided drone production, it’s blowing holes in Russia’s. In a long-range operation, Ukrainian drones hit the Optic Fiber Systems plant in Saransk, deep in Russia’s Mordovia Republic — about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the border.

“The fiber optic systems plant in Saransk was very seriously damaged after the strike,” confirmed Andrii Kovalenko of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

Meanwhile, DTU keeps hunting for battlefield fixes — even the ones that seem small on paper but make a big difference under fire. Co-founder Carl Larson has crisscrossed Ukraine meeting with developers of radio-frequency detectors, searching for tweaks that troops can use immediately.

One engineer added a foldable sun visor to a pocket-sized signal scanner, printed with key frequency ranges and a QR code that links straight to the manual — so even if the paper instructions are lost, the tool stays usable on the front.

“It might seem like a small thing,” says DTU’s President Jonathan Lippert. “But it means a significant percentage of soldiers who might lose paper instructions will still be able to access them online and actually use the device effectively.”

This kind of field-adapted thinking is the backbone of DTU’s model: rapid fixes, open-source sharing, and no time wasted.

“Success for us is helping improve Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, however that might look,” Lippert adds. “That means getting advanced capabilities into soldiers’ hands faster and more broadly.”

When “calling a guy” beats Pentagon red tape

DTU is currently field-testing a wave of new tools — including an RF detection device, an acoustic system now being trialed in combat, and a sub-$10,000 radar urgently needed to spot Russia’s newest fiber-optic drones.

“In the next month or two, we expect to have three different drone-mounted devices ready for testing, focused on counter-drone and anti-jamming operations,” Lippert says.

Unlike traditional defense contractors, DTU doesn’t chase contracts as its volunteers operate in a space between formal military procurement and guerrilla maker culture. Their projects, like the “Iklo” drone-mounted shotgun system or drone-mounted RF detectors, are often too niche, fast-moving, and unorthodox for large vendors or government defense ministries. But on Ukraine’s high-tech battlefield, these are exactly the tools that decide everything.

And DTU doesn’t operate alone — it’s plugged into a broader ecosystem driving battlefield innovation. It partners with Brave1, the Ukrainian government’s official defense-tech incubator, and works alongside grassroots groups like Kyiv Defenders and UkrLegion — NGOs supporting drone teams, training, and tactical innovation. Regional tech clusters in cities like Lviv and Kharkiv round out the network, turning Ukraine’s war zones into live innovation labs.

This decentralized model gives DTU an edge that most governments can’t match: speed. While traditional defense programs are bogged down by bureaucracy, DTU moves with the urgency of war — powered by engineers, soldiers, and volunteers solving problems in real time.

It also offers Western investors and defense planners a glimpse of the future: a wartime innovation pipeline powered not by national labs but by networks of passionate individuals working outside of hierarchies.

The model isn’t just fast — it’s scalable. DTU is already exploring how to bring in venture capital to match proven battlefield tools with dual-use potential down the line.

“Our future plans include close partnerships with UA units, supporting innovation amongst their drone teams to accelerate the testing and adoption of new technologies,” Larson says.

5 million reasons Putin should be terrified

Ukraine has redefined modern defense not with billion-dollar programs, but with speed, scale, and cost-efficiency. In just three years of resisting Russian aggression, it’s built a wartime tech industry capable of overwhelming more sophisticated systems through sheer volume.

“Victory on the battlefield now depends entirely on the ability to outpace the enemy in technological development,” said Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief — a warning that has become the backbone of Ukraine’s defense.

That mindset is exactly what Ukraine’s global backers are betting on. Deborah Fairlamb, Founding Partner at Green Flag Ventures — a US fund investing in Ukrainian-founded companies that can scale globally — pointed to Ukraine’s biggest strategic breakthrough: speed at scale.

In just three years, the country turned battlefield urgency into an advantage, flooding the front with cheap, effective hardware built fast enough to beat Russia’s slower, more advanced systems.

The numbers tell the story. From zero drone production in 2022, Ukraine is now on track to manufacture up to 5 million units in 2025. Iteration cycles that once took years are now completed in weeks. New tools can reach frontline troops in just three to four weeks — a speed few traditional defense ecosystems can match.

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“Kill a navy for the price of a car”: Ukraine’s drones drove out Putin’s fleet from the Black Sea — then turned on his fighter jets

Justin Zeefe, co-founder of Green Flag Ventures, adds that wartime innovation gives these startups a critical edge. By developing and stress-testing their products under live battlefield conditions, Ukrainian firms gain real-world validation and credibility. That, in turn, positions them for faster adoption in NATO and Eastern European markets facing similar threats.

Powered by volunteers, Ukraine has outpaced one of the world’s biggest militaries — but in this race, falling behind even once could be fatal. This is a fight built on everyone showing up — and every personal contribution is vital to keeping Ukraine in the fight.

“It’s an easy sell to tell engineers and students they can join a free group in their spare time to help defend democracy, save lives and stand with the Ukrainian people on the right side of history,” Larson says.

The battle for air superiority is no longer just about seeing — it’s also about hearing. In 2025, Germany plans to launch combat drones equipped with acoustic sensors that can detect the origin of enemy artillery fire, Army Inform reports. 

According to Hartpunkt, German company Quantum-Systems, in collaboration with Polish firm Weles Acoustics, is integrating advanced acoustic detectors into reconnaissance UAVs. These sensors capture sound waves from artillery and mortar fire, allowing for rapid identification of enemy firing positions.

Weighing under 50 grams, the sensors operate in the 20 Hz to 10 kHz range and can detect shots from up to 15 km away. Directional accuracy reaches 5° at a 5 km distance. Integration with neural networks enables the system to automatically identify weapon types, distinguishing, for example, a howitzer from a mortar.

In the initial phase, the operator receives a signal and visually confirms the target. In the future, machine vision algorithms will handle targeting automatically.

The technology is designed to:

• Reduce the time needed to locate enemy batteries
• Improve counter-battery effectiveness
• Minimize losses among Ukraine’s defense forces

Defense Express notes that a major challenge is filtering out noise from drone rotors and wind. Still, field test results have been convincing, and serial production is planned for late 2025.

Earlier, experts reported that Russia likely used a new jet-powered attack drone, the Geran-3, in a recent missile and drone strike on Kyiv. This model marks a significant upgrade over the slower Shahed-136 (Geran-2), boasting reported speeds of 550–600 km/h and a range of up to 2,500 km, compared to the Shahed-136’s 185 km/h.

Residents of Kyiv reported hearing a distinct whistling sound during the strike, consistent with a jet-powered drone and unlike the quieter propeller-driven models previously used. 

It is time to say no to Russian resources. The G7 countries should completely stop purchasing energy from Russia, replacing it with Canadian alternatives, said John Kirton. He is the head of the G7 research group at the University of Toronto, UkrInform reports.

“It is necessary for the G7 to continue pressuring India to stop purchasing Russian oil,” the expert says.

But it is equally important for the G7 countries to completely abandon imports of Russian energy resources, such as oil, coal, gas, and uranium.

“Canada, which holds the fifth-largest oil reserves in the world and is among the top three uranium producers, can help,” Kirton continues.

He emphasizes that Canada “can supply the US with all necessary isotopes so they do not depend on Russia or even Kazakhstan.”

“Although Kazakhstan may ultimately be closer to us than to Russia,” the expert believes.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plan to meet during the G7 summit. This meeting will be their first encounter since April, when they had a 15-minute conversation before Pope Francis’ funeral.

After that meeting, Trump stated that Russia had no justification for recent attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas and suggested that the Russian leader might not want to end the war. Following the meeting, there were talks about imposing new sanctions on Russia, but the US did not enact them.

After their conversation, Moscow launched the largest attack on Ukraine’s city of Kremenchuk, targeting an oil refinery and the thermal power plant. Witnesses say the skies over the town turned red during 30 strikes. Ukraine extinguished the fire for at least eight hours.

Putin calls to congratulate Trump on his birthday — then launches hypersonic missiles on small Ukrainian city in one of largest attacks of war

The United States is ending military aid to Ukraine, shifting responsibility for Kyiv’s defense onto Europe — which has so far failed to match its rhetoric with real support. That’s the conclusion drawn by journalist and war analyst Owen Matthews in a recent Telegraph opinion piece.

Speaking at Congressional hearings on the 2026 US defense budget, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the Trump administration has a “very different view” of the war than its predecessor, favoring a “negotiated peaceful settlement.” The move brings an end to the Biden-era policy that sent $74 billion in US military aid to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

That aid included critical systems like Patriot missile defenses, HIMARS, tanks, and long-range artillery—support Kyiv now stands to lose.

Europe promises more than it pays

With the US stepping back, Europe is expected to take the lead. But Matthews points out that Europe’s follow-through has been inconsistent at best.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s widely publicized ReArm Europe plan suggested €800 billion in defense spending—but the figure relied on easing borrowing rules, not actual funds. A proposed €40 billion EU arms package for Ukraine was blocked by member states, including Hungary and Italy. Only €1 billion, pulled from frozen Russian assets, has so far materialized.

Meanwhile, Europe is projected to spend over €20 billion on Russian oil, gas, coal, and uranium in 2025—more than it is expected to spend on Ukraine’s defense.

“As long as Europe continues to spend more on financing Putin’s war machine than it does on Ukraine’s, its promises… ring rather hollow,” Matthews writes.

Ukraine ramps up but faces gaps

Despite limited external support, Ukraine is expanding domestic arms production. Local output now meets up to 50% of military needs, including howitzers, drones, and electronic warfare tools. Matthews notes that Ukraine’s Limma jamming system outperforms Western and Russian equivalents.

Still, Ukraine remains vulnerable: shortages in ammunition, spare parts, and trained soldiers persist. Reports of forced conscription have triggered online backlash.

Russia, meanwhile, is set to spend $160 billion on defense this year—double Ukraine’s—and benefits from lower production costs.

With US aid gone and European promises still falling short, Matthews argues Kyiv is now fighting for survival with diminishing resources and uncertain allies.

Editor's Note: June 15: This article has been updated to include confirmation of the attack from Ukrainian authorities.

Ukraine allegedly launched drones at Russia’s Tatarstan region, killing one and injuring 13, regional governor Rustam Minnikhanov reported on June 15.

The Ukrainian drones were reportedly shot down, but the debris fell on a plant in the town of Yelabuga, where Russian Shahed-type attack drones are manufactured, causing a fire.

According to Minnikhanov, it was an automobile plant, but some Telegram channels, including Astra, speculate that the well-known drone factory was the target.

Ukraine's General Staff subsequently confirmed details of the strike, including that it was directed at Shahed-style drone production in Yelabuga.

“Despite the attempt to sow fear and panic, all enterprises and life support facilities in the republic are operating stably. Emergency services are on constant alert,” said Minnikhanov.

A video of the attack was shared on Telegram, showing smoke billowing over the town, which lies some 1,500 kilometers from Kyiv.  There has been no official statement from Kyiv on the alleged strike, and the Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.

The so-called Alabuga Special Economic Zone hosts a factory producing Shahed-type long-range attack drones as well as other reconnaissance drones, and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces since its launch in 2022.

The factory aims to produce 6,000 Shahed-type drones a year, with each one estimated to cost as little as $20,000.

Last year, Ukraine confirmed attacking military facilities in Tatarstan at least twice with long-distance drone strikes. Most recently, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck the plant on May 25.

Facing a workforce problem, the factory began recruiting African women under false pretences via a work-study program. As a result, Interpol began an investigation into the company in April for human trafficking.

Russian strike hit Boeing office in Kyiv in deliberate attack on US business, FT reports

“This is not just an attack against Ukraine, but also an attack where American business is being hit,” said Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Ukrainian drones struck two Russian plants overnight on 14 June, damaging facilities connected to explosive production and petrochemical refining in southern Russia’s Stavropol Krai and the Volga region’s Samara Oblast. Videos from the scene, shared by several Telegram channels, show drone flyovers, interceptions, fires at the facilities, and the aftermath of the strikes.

Strikes on Nevinnomysk Azot in Stavropol

According to Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation (UCCD), the Nevinnomysk Azot plant in Stavropol Krai was one of the main targets. The factory produces over a million tons of ammonia and ammonium nitrate annually—essential components in explosive manufacturing.

Footage shared by Telegram channels suggests the control room of Nevinnomysk Azot may have been destroyed.

Regional governor Vladimir Vladimirov claimed “debris” from a drone fell in the city’s industrial zone.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that the strike aimed to degrade Russia’s capacity to produce explosives and munitions. The General Staff described the Nevinnomysk facility as a key supplier for Russia’s war against Ukraine, reporting multiple explosions and fires at the site.

Drone attack on Samara Oblast industrial site

In a parallel operation, drones struck another major industrial site in Novokuybyshevsk, Samara Oblast. The Ukrainian military identified the target as the Novokuybyshevsk Petrochemical Company (NNK), a top-tier supplier of components used in artillery explosives.

Local residents reported the attack and resulting fire, and some Ukrainian sources suggested that the Novokuybyshevsk Catalyst Plant might have been the target. The facility focuses on regenerating catalysts for the oil processing and chemical industries and developing new types of catalysts and adsorbents through experimental production.

Samara Oblast governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed a UAV attack attempt on one of Novokuybyshevsk’s industrial facilities, stating there were no casualties or major damage.

According to the Militarnyi outlet, NNK supplies ingredients to the Kazan Powder Plant and the Sverdlov Plant, both engaged in manufacturing explosive materials including octogen and hexogen. Public contracts show transactions worth hundreds of millions of rubles for explosive production materials, highlighting the plant’s direct ties to Russia’s defense sector.

The Ukrainian General Staff described the Novokuybyshevsk plant as directly involved in supplying components for Russia’s artillery shell production.

Ukrainian military confirms targeting of military-linked facilities

The military stressed that its drone strikes were conducted in coordination with other Ukrainian Defense Forces units and reiterated its commitment to undermining Russia’s war capacity.

Damage assessment is ongoing, according to the report.

Russian claims

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its air defense downed 66 Ukrainian drones during the night, failing even to mention Samara Oblast. The MoD claimed the interceptions included 30 in Voronezh Oblast, 10 in Belgorod Oblast, eight in Stavropol Krai, and six in occupied Crimea. 

Ukraine’s domestically developed short-range Sapsan ballistic missile has successfully completed combat testing and is in the process of serial production, Ukrainian media reported on June 13.

The missile, with a payload of 480 kg, completed testing in May after successfully striking a Russian military target at a range of nearly 300 km, Valentyn Badrak, head of the an independent Ukrainian think Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies told Liga.net.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry reportedly dedicated a department to formulate and test the missile.

There is no reported timeline as to when the missiles can be seen in regular use on the battlefield.

Domestically produced long-range weapons are of key importance to Ukraine's defense strategy, as Western partners have been slow in delivering adequate weaponry amid increasing Russian attacks and offensives.

The news comes as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a congressional hearing on June 10 that the United States will reduce funding allocated for military assistance to Ukraine in its upcoming defense budget

In November 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine has produced its first 100 missiles.

Since then, Ukraine has continued to increase domestic weapon production. Zelensky said on April 16 that over 40% of the weapons used at the front line are now produced in Ukraine, including over 95% of drones used at front line.

Zelensky also previously revealed that Ukraine had developed another domestic-made weapon, a missile-drone Palianytsia.

As Ukraine attempt to increase its defense production, Russia has continued to unleash large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities, regularly launching hundreds of drones to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) shared with the Kyiv Independent that Russia's production of ballistic missiles has increased by at least 66% over the past year.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in late 2024 that Ukraine also resumed and scaled up serial production of Neptune cruise missiles, modifying them to have a greater range.

Kyiv has received a number of long-range missiles from partners, such as U.S.-made ATACMS, British Storm Shadow, or French SCALP/T. Despite Ukrainian requests, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on June 12 that Berlin has no plans to provide Taurus long-range missiles to Kyiv.

Germany to supply new Iris-T air defense systems to Ukraine, rules out Taurus missiles

Germany will deliver new IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine under a three-year supply plan, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a joint press conference with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who said Berlin has no plans to provide Taurus long-range missiles.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Ukraine has made a breakthrough in its weapons developement. The new, domestically produced Sapsan ballistic missile has completed successful tests and is now headed for mass production, says Valentin Badrak, director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies, LIGA.net reports. 

“The first successful test of Ukraine’s first ballistic missile took place in July 2024,” Badrak confirms.

Ballistic missiles are notoriously hard to intercept due to their parabolic trajectory, a tactical advantage confirmed by battlefield experience.

“Even the older American ATACMS missiles have proven this in combat, as the enemy failed to intercept them,” the expert adds. 

In May 2025, Sapsan saw its first combat use, and it was an immediate success. The missile struck a Russian military target approximately 300 km away with high precision.

The Ministry of Defense has now greenlit full-scale production, and according to Badrak, “there are no obstacles remaining for this step.”

Beyond its speed, Sapsan boasts a powerful warhead of 480 kg, more than double the explosive payload of the standard US ATACMS – 227 kg.

“It’s clear Ukraine is moving toward missile force buildup — and this matters not only for today’s defense, but for securing the nation’s long-term future,” Badrak concludes. 

Earlier, Mykola Shcherbakov, commander of a State Border Guard Sea Guard vessel, said the war in Ukraine is bringing revolutionary changes to modern military strategy. After Ukrainian soldiers destroyed Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship, the Moskva cruiser, it became clear: the era of large warships is over

Russia turns the war into a marathon of continuous arms production. Moscow produces more ammunition than all NATO countries combined, and does so many times faster, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London on 9 June. 

“In terms of ammunition, Russia produces in three months what the whole of NATO produces in a year,” said Rutte.

He added that Russia’s military machine is not slowing down. On the contrary, it is strengthening its potential. Russia is actively replenishing its arsenal with help from China, Iran, and North Korea. 

Rutte also noted that Russia is using Chinese technology to modernize its army.

“And its defence industrial base is expected to roll out 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armoured vehicles, and 200 Iskander missiles this year alone,” the NATO chief highlighted.

He warned that Russia could be ready for aggression against NATO within the next five years. According to Rutte, “President Putin does not act like someone who is interested in peace.” 

NATO needs to increase air and missile defence by 400% – Rutte says ahead of June summit

French automaker Renault will begin manufacturing drones in Ukraine, France Info reported, marking a significant collaboration between the automotive and defense sectors. Renault will partner with a small French defense company to equip production lines on Ukrainian territory, with the drones expected to serve both Ukrainian and French military forces.

While the French Defense Ministry declined to comment on Renault specifically, Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed on June 6 that a major French car manufacturer would join forces with a defense SME to launch drone production in Ukraine. Speaking to Le Monde, Lecornu did not name the automaker, but praised the project as an "unprecedented partnership."

When contacted by France Info, Renault confirmed that it has been contacted by the government, but added that "no decision has been taken at this stage."

The production will take place away from front-line areas, although the exact locations were not disclosed. Lecornu emphasized that the assembly would be handled by Ukrainians, citing their strong expertise in drone development and combat deployment strategies.

Lecornu also said there is "no need" to send French citizens to work on the production line, since it will be set up in Ukraine, where Ukrainians "are better than us at designing drones and especially at developing the strategies that accompany them."

This move underscores France’s growing support for Ukraine’s defense industry and comes as Ukraine continues to expand its own drone manufacturing capabilities.

Presidential advisor Oleksandr Kamyshin said in March that Ukrainian producers have the capacity to make over 5 million FPV drones annually.

Drone warfare has become a central component of the ongoing war, with both Ukraine and Russia increasingly relying on unmanned systems for reconnaissance and strikes.

Renault, the French automotive giant, has been identified as the company set to produce drones in Ukraine. France Info says production lines could be located “a few dozen or hundred kilometers from the front line.”

Renault to build drones in Ukraine near frontline zones

France Info reported on 8 June that Renault plans to enter the defense sector by partnering with a French SME specializing in defense technology to produce drones in Ukraine. 

The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, initially disclosed on 6 June that a “major French car manufacturer” would produce drones in Ukraine, without naming the company. 

Renault confirmed to France Info that it had been contacted by the French government about the drone production project, but added that “no decision has been made at this stage.”

Lecornu earlier noted that there is no current need for French workers to staff the production facilities in Ukraine. He emphasized Ukrainian expertise, stating that Ukrainians are “better than us at imagining drones and especially at developing the doctrine around them.”

Drones for Ukraine and France

The drones are intended for use by both the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the French military. France lags behind in drone capabilities and sees this partnership as an opportunity to benefit from Ukraine’s battlefield innovation and experience.

Militarnyi says that the project will begin with Renault joining small and medium-sized French defense businesses, followed by the establishment of production capacities on Ukrainian territory.

On 6 June, Lecornu also noted that other companies connected to France’s defense industry are already operating in Ukraine.

French military-industrial strategy shifts

This development aligns with earlier announcements in February about France planning to adapt its civilian industry to respond to large-scale military demands. Militarnyi reported that one representative of the French auto industry had already been approached to help launch drone production, particularly for kamikaze-type drones similar to those used in Ukraine. The Ministry of Armed Forces and the French defense procurement agency reportely aim to reach production speeds of several thousand drones within a few months.

Ukraine is still waiting for the United States to respond to its request to purchase air defense systems, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 7 June. This followed a major Russian air assault on Kharkiv city the same day, as Russia reportedly targeted the city with 67 explosive drones, nine aerial bombs, and a missile.

Zelenskyy calls for urgent US support

In his evening address on 7 June, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine urgently needs “positive signals” from the US — not just words, but concrete decisions.

“We are working to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. We urgently need positive signals from the United States – concrete signals regarding air defense systems,” he said. “We are still waiting for a response to our request to purchase systems that can help — concrete signals, not words.”

He also thanked European nations for their support and emphasized the importance of joint production efforts.

“We must also achieve results in the joint production of air defense systems and missiles for them – this is absolutely essential for our whole Europe,” Zelenskyy noted, adding that “only time separates us from that result, and what matters most is shortening that time.”

Reuters: US expects another multi-pronged Russian strike after Ukraine’s Spiderweb drone attack

The statement came after a Ukrainian delegation visited Washington on 6 June. According to the head of the Office of the President, Andrii Yermak, Ukraine expressed its readiness to buy weapons from the US. However, Yermak stated that members of Congress believe Washington can continue supplying arms directly to Ukraine instead.

On 6 June, Russia attacked Kyiv, Lutsk, and Ternopil with hundreds of drones and 45 missiles, leading to heavy casualties among civilians. That day, US President Donald Trump appeared to defend Russia’s massive airstrike on Ukrainian cities the night before, claiming that Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb had given Vladimir Putin “a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night.” Earlier, after a phone call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, he said Russia’s reaction would “not be pretty.” 

Ukrainian drones struck the Azot chemical plant in Tula Oblast linked to explosives production, marking the second attack on the facility in two weeks, overnight on 8 June. Yesterday, resumed Ukrainian attacks on oil processing facilities continued with a strike on a bitumen production site near a major oil refinery in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

Tula Oblast’s Azot chemical plant hit again

The Azot facility in Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast, has increasingly become a target in Ukraine’s long-range drone operations due to its role in Russia’s defense production. 

On 8 June, Russian sources reported that drones targeted the Azot around 400 kilometers from Ukraine. The attack caused explosions and a fire at the plant, according to Russian pro-government Telegram channels, including VChK-OGPU, which stated shortly after midnight that that “an UAV hit the NK Azot pipe in Novomoskovsk” shortly past midnight.

Russian news Telegram channels Astra noticed that eyewitnesses reported hearing five to eight loud explosions. Citing local Telegram channels, Astra said the drones hit the Azot chemical plant, which produces substances used in the manufacture of explosives for artillery shells.

About 2:30 a.m., Tula Oblast governor Dmitry Milyaev confirmed the strike and the resulting fire, stating that it broke out after drone debris hit the site. In his official Telegram post, he added,

“The fire has been extinguished. No exceedance of permissible pollutant levels has been recorded. […] Two people were injured, but their lives are not at risk. Emergency services are working at the site.”

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ suggested, based on available footage, that the strike on the Azot plant in Novomoskovsk likely hit the main pipeline access area, not the processing units themselves. In video reportedly filmed on-site, a worker says: “Basically, it hit a pipe — a gas one, a propane line.” The channel noted that further OSINT is needed for confirmation.

Second attack on Azot in weeks

This is the second drone strike on the plant in recent weeks. The previous attack occurred on 24 May, when drones hit a low-pressure gas pipeline in workshop No. 4, damaging two 750-ton nitric acid tanks. One tank leaked onto the ground, prompting a full shutdown of the facility. Governor Milyaev then reported damage to an acid storage unit during emergency response operations.

Fuel facility near Kstovo also struck

In the afternoon of 7 June, Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted another industrial site – JSC Bitumnoye Proizvodstvo bitumen plant – near the Lukoil refinery in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, about 800 km from Ukraine. Local Telegram channels shared video of the incident.

It remains unclear whether the bitumen plant or the refinery was the intended target.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed a major fire broke out, stating:

“According to updated information, bitumen production units with a total volume of 200 cubic meters are burning. A firefighting train has departed from the Zelecino station. More than 70 specialists and 26 pieces of equipment are involved in extinguishing the blaze.”

Resumed attacks on fuel facilities

Ukraine resumed its attacks against Russian fuel storage and processing facilities on 6 June after a few-month pause, by targeting the Rosrezerv’s Kristall fuel depot in Engels, Saratov Oblast, where aviation fuel for Russia’s strategic bombers is stored. Before that, the most recent attack of this kind occurred on 18 March, when Ukrainian drones targeted the Kavkaz oil transshipment terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai.

After months, Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian fuel depots, targets airfields and military factories (video)

However, Militarnyi suggests that the Kristall strike “could have been part of the series of attacks on Russia’s long-range capabilities,” given it stores fuel for strategic aviation. However, the 7 June strike on the Kstovo plant removes ambiguity, as it “provides grounds to assert that Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russia’s oil industry,” the outlet wrote.

French automotive and defence companies will establish drone production facilities on Ukrainian soil, Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on 6 June, describing the arrangement as a “win-win” partnership with Kyiv.

“We are launching a completely unprecedented partnership where a major French car manufacturing company – I won’t give the name because it’s up to them to announce it – will ally with a French defence SME to arm production lines in Ukraine to be capable of producing drones,” Lecornu told LCI television channel.

The minister did not specify the type of drones to be manufactured but confirmed they will serve Ukrainian forces while also benefiting French military units “to have permanent tactical, operational training that matches the reality” of the Ukraine war. Ukrainian forces will provide feedback on battlefield drone usage in return.

According to Lecornu, French citizens will not be required to work on the Ukrainian production line. He credited Ukrainian expertise, saying that Ukrainians “are better than us in the capacity to imagine drones and especially to develop the doctrine that goes around them.”

Ukraine plans to deploy over 4.5 million drones in 2025, with drones accounting for 70% of Russian equipment destruction at the front, Le Monde reports. The French military, which operates several thousand drones, seeks to close its capability gap in this domain.

The announcement follows discussions between Ukrainian and French defence ministers in Brussels on 5 June regarding joint weapons production for Ukrainian defence needs. At the 28th Ramstein meeting at NATO headquarters, Ukraine and partner states agreed to establish a defence production mechanism.

 Several European partners have recently invested in Ukraine’s drone production

Finland established a drone manufacturing factory in cooperation with Ukrainian partners to produce drones for both Ukraine and the EU, with mass production starting in early 2025. The Netherlands announced a €700 million ($798 mn) investment focused on advancing drone technology and supporting Ukraine’s defense industry. The UK is also investing hundreds of millions of dollars to scale up drone production for Ukraine in 2025. Norway has redirected funds to support Ukrainian-made drone production. 

Moscow ramps up production of millions of drones — not without help from China, which officially “knows nothing” about the cooperation, writes Politico. 

Moscow has gained an advantage in the drone war in Ukraine due to its vast financial resources, production lines located far from the front lines, and especially assistance from Beijing.

Oleh Aleksandrov, a representative of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, says Chinese manufacturers supply Russia with equipment, electronics, navigation, optical, and telemetry systems, engines, microchips, processor modules, antenna systems, and control boards.

“They use so-called shell companies, change names, do everything to avoid being subject to export control and avoid sanctions for their activities,” he explains. 

Officially, China claims to comply with all regulations. But only officially, Aleksandrov adds.

According to him, Russia increased its production of long-range drones from 15,000 in 2024 to over 30,000 this year and aims to produce up to 2 million small tactical drones. 

“They aim to produce about 30,000 long-range drones of those types plus 30,000 false target drones they use to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses in 2025,” he continues. 

As for FPV drones, the Russians intend to manufacture as many as 2 million of them in 2025.

Russia is also increasing its use of fiber-optic drones, which are immune to electronic warfare. Ukrainian forces previously could detect ordinary Russian drones as soon as they took off, but this is much harder with fiber-optic ones.

“So we have to use different acoustic and other means to trace those drones,” said Andrii, the army commander.

Moreover, according to him, the Russians are ramping up not only drone production but also electronic warfare systems. 

Radio frequencies change on his section of the front every two weeks. As a result, when Ukraine supplies drones, only about 20% of them are usable. Constant adjustments cost extra time and money.

Despite the US’s absence, the Ramstein meeting on 4 June kicked off a new era of military aid for Ukraine, with billions in investments and joint weapons production.

Ramstein moves forward without the US 

For the first time since the group’s creation, the US Secretary of Defense was absent from the meeting. 

The Pentagon explained that Pete Hegseth had a tight schedule, writes ArmyInform. He also won’t attend today’s NATO–Ukraine Council meeting, although he did arrive for the NATO ministerial and attended the Alliance’s headquarters on the morning of 5 June.

Nevertheless, the meeting results demonstrate that the rest of the allies remain committed to supporting Ukraine militarily, as confirmed by the announcement of new aid packages.

Ukraine and allies won’t just share weapons

The central takeaway from the Contact Group meeting was the agreement to create a joint defense production mechanism. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the concept came from partners offering to help establish defense production involving Ukrainian companies.

“Our partners are ready to fully finance the production, and the products made under Ukrainian licenses will be sent to Ukraine as long as the war continues,” he explained.

During the discussions, however, the plan evolved into mutual investment: Ukrainian manufacturers will be able to invest in partner countries, while companies from these countries will be able to build large-scale factories in Ukraine.

Umerov noted that the idea is still new, with details under discussion and no official name yet.

“We’re calling it ‘Ramstein investments in the defense industry,’ but this is a strategic breakthrough,” the minister emphasized.

There are already specific agreements on joint production:

• A Western European company announced it will produce modern anti-Shahed missiles in Ukraine,
• The UK and Ukraine will jointly manufacture LMM missiles and launchers,
• Rheinmetall is building cutting-edge Lynx combat vehicles in Ukraine,
• Ukrainian companies are producing ammunition under Nammo licenses,
• SAAB, Kongsberg, KNDS, FFG, and Raytheon are all expanding their presence in Ukraine.

The SAAB produces Gripen fighter jets, Raytheon manufactures Patriot missiles, the only type capable of intercepting Russia’s ballistic missiles, KNDS makes missiles for NASAMS, and FFG is notable for supplying military vehicles and equipment, including contributing Leopard 1A5 tanks. 

“Ukrainian drones have changed the situation on the battlefield, and now they will change how Ramstein countries prepare for future threats,” Umerov stated.

100,000 drones and a record £4.5 billion in aid

Before the session even began, London announced a new aid package with a special focus on drones: 100,000 drones for Ukraine’s Defense Forces by the end of 2025, ten times more than last year, with record investments of £350 million.

Additionally, 140,000 artillery shells have already been delivered. Another £247 million will go toward training Ukrainian troops as part of Operation Interflex, which has already trained 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers.

German long-range weapons to be built on Ukrainian soil

Germany, in turn, confirmed its previously announced €5 billion military aid package. It includes funding for long-range weapons to be produced in Ukraine, as well as the delivery of air defense systems, weapons, and ammunition.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius assured that supporting Ukraine remains a priority both for the new German government and for him personally.

War at Sea: Netherlands, Canada, and Belgium expand maritime and electronic warfare fronts

Support for Ukraine goes far beyond just two countries. The Netherlands is focusing on maritime security: €400 million will go toward a mine countermeasure ship, boats, and maritime drones for Ukraine.

Norway is prioritizing support for Ukraine’s defense industry, allocating $700 million for drones and contributing $50 million to the NSATU fund.

Canada will provide $45 million for drones, electronic warfare equipment, and will send Coyote and Bison armored vehicles to Ukraine.

Belgium, which hosted Ramstein for the second time, announced a long-term initiative — committing to €1 billion annually in aid to Ukraine through 2029 and the delivery of a mine countermeasure vessel.

Sweden allocated €440 million for international programs to purchase artillery shells, drones, and other weaponry for Ukraine.

Montenegro will manufacture unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for Ukraine and NATO under a newly signed agreement with a US firm, backed by up to $15 million in American military aid through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, the Montenegrin Government reports.

Militarnyi reports that on 29 May, the Government of Montenegro approved a letter of intent to invest in UAS production in cooperation with US-based By Light Professional IT Services LLC. The Montenegrin government confirmed that the first batch of drones produced under this initiative will be donated to Ukraine.

The plan reportedly involves a joint effort between two Montenegrin companies (Tara Aerospace and Polimex) and two US firms (By Light and 4WINDS LLC). By Light will contribute its expertise in vertical takeoff drones (HALO series) and FPV drones (PERSES). 4WINDS LLC is expected to establish a Montenegrin subsidiary to support the implementation.

Deal aligns with Podgorica’s Ukraine support

According to the Montenegrin Government’s document, the deal aligns with national goals to support NATO, Ukraine, and regional security while fostering a new sector of economic growth.

Montenegro confirmed its legislation allows the production and export of military equipment and hazardous materials. 

The production and export of arms will follow the country’s national arms control list, harmonized with the European Union’s Common Military List. Additional legislation is under preparation and is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Russia plans to produce 2 million first-person-view (FPV) drones and 30,000 long-range and decoy drones in 2025 for its war against Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU) spokesperson Oleh Aleksandrov told Politico on June 5.

The ramp-up marks a critical expansion of Moscow's drone warfare program, as both Ukraine and Russia increasingly rely on unmanned systems for reconnaissance and front-line attacks.

According to Aleksandrov, Russia's drone production is heavily dependent on Chinese components. Despite Beijing's public denials, Chinese manufacturers continue to supply Russia with key electronics and technologies.

"They use so-called shell companies, change names, do everything to avoid being subject to export control and avoid sanctions for their activities," Aleksandrov said.

The intelligence official warned that this industrial support allows Moscow to narrow Ukraine's early advantage in drone innovation.

"They aim to produce about 30,000 long-range drones of those types plus 30,000 false target drones they use to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses in 2025," he added. "As for the FPV drones, Russians are aiming to produce a whopping 2 million of them in 2025."

FPV drones, small and agile devices often equipped with explosive payloads, have proven highly effective in damaging tanks, artillery, and other high-value targets at low cost.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this year that Moscow is working to manufacture up to 500 long-range drones per day, Suspilne reported.

The Kremlin's nightly drone attacks — frequently involving Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones — have strained Ukraine's air defenses and inflicted heavy damage on cities and infrastructure.

Ukraine, for its part, has dramatically scaled up domestic drone production in response.

The Strategic Industries Ministry reported that Ukraine more than doubled its long-range drone output in 2024 compared to 2023 — a 22-fold increase over 2022.

Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 accused Ukraine of being governed by a terrorist regime that deliberately targets civilians and claimed it is continuing to lose the war. He rejected the possibility of holding talks.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Russia’s production of Shahed drones and their imitators reached approximately 170 units per day as of May 2025, Ukrainska Pravda reported on 4 June, citing Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR).

The country plans to increase this output to 190 drones daily by the end of the year, according to the GUR.

The intelligence agency said that drone technology has evolved significantly since 2022. “The configurations of the Shahed in 2022 and 2025 differ substantially,” GUR reported, highlighting several key modifications introduced over the past year alone.

Russia has substantially modified the drones’ warheads beyond standard high-explosive and fragmentation variants. Shaheds now carry combined cumulative-fragmentation-high-explosive warheads, as well as cumulative-fragmentation-high-explosive-incendiary versions, according to GUR. The intelligence directorate explains that different warhead types are selected for specific targets to maximize damage.

The explosive payload has increased from 50 to 90 kilograms, according to GUR. Some drones now feature Starlink terminals, enabling real-time control of the aircraft.

Foreign journalists recently reported possible connections between Shaheds and Ukrainian mobile networks. The Economist claimed that Russian drones operate through Telegram bots using Ukrainian SIM cards. However, Ukrainian military radio technology specialist Serhiy Flash later refuted this information.

Russia has upgraded its electronic warfare resistance technology on Shaheds, according to GUR. The country began protecting signal receivers with specialized CRPA antennas capable of ignoring false satellite signals.

Russia received its first hundreds of Shaheds from Iran in 2022. By summer 2023, the country began independent production of these drones at a facility located 1,200 kilometers from the front line in the Alabuga special economic zone in Yelabuga city. The plant produces a localized version of the Iranian drone under the designation Geran-2.

Drones play a crucial role in the Russo-Ukraine war by providing real-time intelligence, conducting precision strikes, disrupting logistics, and supporting frontline troops, with Ukraine leveraging mass-produced, low-cost drones to inflict significant damage on Russian forces and infrastructure. Both sides employ a wide variety of drones for reconnaissance, attack, electronic warfare, and supply missions, fundamentally reshaping the battlefield and warfare tactics.

Kremlin officials publicly stated that Russia seeks the “complete destruction” of Ukraine, signaling Moscow’s lack of interest in genuine peace negotiations, according to recent statements analyzed by the Institute for the Study of War.

Russia’s Istanbul memorandum reflects the Kremlin’s public demands for Ukraine to make significant territorial and political concessions while Russia offers no concessions of its own.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev claimed on 3 June that Russia needs negotiations in Istanbul to result in Russia’s “swift victory [in Ukraine] and the complete destruction” of the Ukrainian government rather than a “compromise[d] peace on someone else’s delusional terms,” the ISW reports.

Medvedev stated that Russia’s 2 June Istanbul memorandum aligned with these objectives and threatened that Russia will “explode” everything and “disappear” anyone who opposes Russia in response to recent Ukrainian drone strikes.

The operation Spider Web on 1 June involved over 100 Ukrainian drones, covertly transported into Russia hidden in trucks, which targeted Russian strategic airbases destroying or damaging 41 long-range bombers used for attacks on Ukraine.

The ISW assesses that Russian officials have engaged with the United States in bilateral meetings as part of ongoing US mediation efforts, but have yet to demonstrate willingness to compromise on their long-standing demands.

Russia remains committed to pursuing demands that amount to nothing short of Ukraine’s full capitulation and will continue this objective as long as Putin believes Russia can militarily defeat Ukraine.

Simultaneously, Russia continues expanding its military capabilities against Ukraine, with reports by Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate showing that Russian forces had stockpiled over 13,000 ballistic, cruise, and other missiles as of mid-May 2025.

The stockpile includes almost 600 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, over 100 Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles, almost 300 Kh-101 cruise missiles, over 400 Kalibr cruise missiles, up to 300 Kh-22/32 cruise missiles, about 700 Oniks cruise missiles and Zirkon anti-ship missiles, about 60 North Korean-produced KN-23 ballistic missiles, and approximately 11,000 S-300/400 air defense missiles.

The intelligence directorate estimated that Russia can produce roughly 150-200 missiles per month. The ISW concludes that Russian efforts to increase domestic drone and missile production and ongoing adaptation of strike packages are likely part of preparations for a prolonged war in Ukraine and possibly a future conflict against NATO.

In May 2025, the ISW also reported that Russia increased production of Shahed drones from about 100 to a planned 500 per day, and upgrading drone technologies with AI and improved navigation to evade Ukrainian defenses.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 3 to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, raising duties from 25% to 50%, the White House announced.

Trump's new order builds on a Feb. 10 executive action that imposed a flat 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports. Steel production is one of Ukraine's core industrial sectors and its second-largest source of foreign currency after agriculture.

The White House cited the earlier rate's failure to "develop and maintain the rates of capacity production utilization that are necessary for the industries' sustained health and for projected national defense needs."

Trump defended the new duties as essential to national security, claiming they will "reduce or eliminate the threat posed by imports" and ensure self-sufficiency in strategic industries.

Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said earlier this year that the share of Ukrainian steel in the U.S. market remains small and poses no threat to domestic U.S. producers.

However, tariffs further jeopardize Ukraine's key metallurgical exports, particularly ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih and Interpipe, which are already suffering due to the war.

Ukraine's metallurgical products make up 57.9% of Ukraine's exports to the U.S., or in dollar amounts, $503 million out of $869 million, according to Svyrydenko. It is unclear what time frame those figures represent.

The U.K. is the only exception to the new tariffs, which will remain at the 25% level for British imports, according to Bloomberg.

Trump defended the tariffs as a way to simplify duties on metals and hinted at retaliatory measures against countries imposing tariffs on American goods.

‘Risk level goes up’ — Ukraine’s strike on Russian bombers could escalate war, US envoy Kellogg says

“I’m telling you the risk levels are going way up,” U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Last year, Ukrainian military intelligence did what sounds like science fiction: they fed thousands of images of Russian jets into artificial intelligence systems, training machines to hunt and dive-bomb strategic bombers meant to launch nuclear annihilation.

On 1 June, those AI-trained killing machines proved they learned their lessons perfectly.

Ukrainian forces loaded homegrown drones into ordinary trucks, smuggled them deep into Russia’s rear, and unleashed mechanical predators that struck four airbases from the Arctic to Siberia — wiping out a $7 billion of Russia’s elite air force in a single day.

With 41 aircraft reduced to wreckage — the largest single-day funeral for Russian aircraft since WWII — Putin’s elite “red lines” air threat that kept the West cowering for years would take decades to restore — if sanctions ever allow it.

Behind this massacre lies Ukraine’s domestic drone empire that has exploded from desperate start-ups into a $2.8 billion war machine in just three years — and it just launched the AI arms race that will haunt every future battlefield.

From garage tinkering to 4.5 million killer drones

The devastating attack, dubbed the operation “Spiderweb,” resulted from three years of rapid drone evolution — a transformation that turned Ukraine’s drone warfare from a desperate improvisation to a high‑volume, precision‑strike ecosystem Russia often struggles to match.

In the early days of full-scale war, Ukraine’s defense ministry purchased thousands of drones, still relying heavily on ad hoc production, crowdfunding, and volunteer ingenuity. Yet, it took just two years to leap from garage builds to global leadership, pioneering drone technology.

By 2024, the government had scaled up procurement to over 1.5 million drones, with 96% of contracts awarded to domestic manufacturers. In 2025, Ukraine tripled its investment, allocating more than $2.6 billion – one-fifth of Ukraine’s total defense procurement – toward drones, including plans to deliver 4.5 million FPV models to the battlefield.

With factories now producing millions of drones and some operators flying up to 15 missions a day, Ukraine’s domestic drone industry has evolved from battlefield improvisation to full-scale industrialization — delivering lethal, low-cost systems at speed, with growing flexibility and automation.

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No aid? No problem. Ukraine’s engineers hit Russia 7,000 times with homegrown tech

These drones have become central to Ukraine’s battlefield strategy — pinpointing, punishing, and relentlessly pushing back Russian forces. As The New York Times put it, “It feels as if there are a thousand snipers in the sky.” Still, Ukraine’s technological edge is under pressure, with questions mounting over how long it can maintain dominance.

In contrast, Russian troops are often starved for drones, with some battalions receiving just 10 to 15 FPV (First-person view) drones per week.

“We know where they are flying from, but there is nothing to kill with,” lamented one Russian operator.

Regulatory bottlenecks have made matters worse. “Heavy drones now require state approval,” wrote a Russian blogger, noting that units have begun constructing their own drones to fill the gap left by a struggling domestic industry, increasingly strained by the relentless race to modernize.

The bomb witch that haunts Russians armed with sticks

While Russia faces production setbacks, Ukraine is pushing forward with increasingly advanced systems. Among the most distinctive innovations is the “Baba Yaga” — a heavy multirotor drone named after the mythical Slavic witch.

Unlike smaller FPV drones, the Baba Yaga can carry 45-pound payloads like aerial bombs, mortar shells, anti-tank mines, and even guided bombs, making it ideal for hitting bunkers and supply depots. In response, Russian troops have resorted to crude countermeasures — attaching long sticks to knock Ukraine’s bulky bombers out of the sky.

However, Baba Yaga is just one part of Ukraine’s evolving drone arsenal. While new platforms continue to emerge, older systems are also being upgraded to stay deadly. Mavic drones, for instance, pioneered light bombing tactics early in the war, serving as surprisingly lethal anti-personnel systems despite their commercial origins

Since then, FPVs have taken over the role, offering greater payload capacity and flexibility. Some FPV drones now carry up to six VOG grenades – compared to the two typically deployed by Mavics – allowing for more impactful strikes with greater reach and frequency.

This drive for greater range, precision, and coordination has led to Ukraine’s next leap in drone warfare.

Putin’s next nightmare: Ukraine’s mothership drones

Among Ukraine’s latest innovations is mothership drones — large UAVs capable of carrying and launching multiple FPV drones mid-flight. Designed for long-range missions, these platforms allow Ukrainian forces to strike deep behind enemy lines, overwhelming Russian defenses with coordinated, multi-drone assaults.

FPV drones have become Ukraine’s key interceptors, targeting Russian reconnaissance drones, while Russian units use theirs to hunt down Ukraine’s Baba Yagas.

“FPV drones are about tactical dominance. They bring chaos, fear, and uncertainty to close combat,” a Russian commentator wrote. “They are cheap, massive and deadly effective – and their potential grows with each passing day…These are no longer makeshift weapons, but new close-combat artillery.”

And in Ukrainian hands, they’ve become a relentless force — now fired more often than many large-caliber artillery shells.

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Much of Ukraine’s drone warfare success comes from specialized units. The Birds of Magyar, one of the country’s most prolific teams, carried out over 11,600 sorties in March 2025 alone — striking more than 5,300 targets, or one every eight minutes.

The majority of these hits came from FPV drones (67%) and heavy bombers (31%). While FPV strike footage tends to dominate social media, it’s the less flashy “Baba Yaga” night bombers that may be doing most of the actual damage on the ground.

These UAVs specialize in destroying infrastructure and personnel shelters, not just enemy armor. In March alone, they carried out 1,701 strikes on Russian infantry, with 1,002 confirmed kills and dozens of bunker-busting missions. By April, Ukrainian drone brigades reported hitting 83,000 targets — a 5% increase in just one month.

Russian milblogger “Vault 8” noted that Ukrainian FPV and reconnaissance drones now dominate up to 25 kilometers behind the front line — making road travel perilous and turning rear areas into a “highway of death,” where even vehicles far from combat zones are frequently destroyed. Both sides are being forced to adapt to this new reality — and the consequences are already visible on the battlefield.

Now, Ukraine is using these drones to construct a “drone wall” along the front line — extending the no-man’s land by dozens of kilometers and deterring Russian advances through constant aerial threat.

With FPV drones now functioning as the new artillery of modern warfare, mobility has become critical. For months, Russian forces have used motorcycles to lead high-risk assaults, a tactic born out of necessity due to mounting losses of armored vehicles to Ukrainian drones. In response, Ukraine’s 425th Skala Assault Regiment has established its own motorcycle assault company — aiming to match speed with survivability on a battlefield shaped by drones.

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Ukraine’s drones deliver ammo — and dead Russians every 6.5 minutes

Beyond direct strikes, the unit also lays mines, conducts aerial reconnaissance, and has carried out over 10,000 missions to date — including tests of jamming-resistant drones. As national production ramps up to 200,000 drones a month, the Birds of Magyar have seen their kill rate skyrocket: from fewer than 300 confirmed targets a year ago to over 5,000 today, eliminating one Russian soldier every 6.5 minutes.

Even Ukraine’s logistics have taken to the skies. Vampire drones are now being used to deliver food and ammunition to frontline units, flying at low altitudes to evade detection. Smaller FPV drones, typically 10 to 15 inches in size, are also employed — their crews far more mobile and adaptable.

While larger bombers must release payloads from higher altitudes to avoid small arms fire, FPVs can dive straight into targets as small as a single meter across, offering unmatched precision.

“FPVs are more effective against pinpoint targets, where the scale of damage doesn’t matter, but accuracy does,” says Danylo, a drone pilot from the 108th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade.

FPVs hunt by day, bombers mine by night

However, larger drones like the Vampire come with trade-offs. They require vehicle transport, limiting mobility, and must either launch close to the front — risking exposure — or fly long distances, increasing the chance of detection.

“At long range, it’s very visible in thermal cameras and can be intercepted, even shot down by another FPV, before it even crosses the line of contact,” says Oleksii, a drone unit commander from the same brigade.

Even Russian volunteers admit it: Ukraine’s heavy Vampire drones — built to hunt down artillery crews, tanks, and command posts — are giving Kyiv a strategic edge, thanks to their disciplined rollout and battlefield precision. And the arms race isn’t slowing down. Ukraine recently logged its first confirmed kill with a drone-mounted grenade launcher, pushing the boundaries of what flying machines can do in combat.

“Ukrainian ‘Vampire’ type heavy drones have a complementary role to FPVs,” explained Roy Gardiner, an open source weapons researcher and former Canadian officer. “While FPVs attack Russian logistics vehicles during the day, heavy drones attack the same vehicles at night by precision mining Russian roads.”

In some cases, however, FPVs outperform larger drones. Russian vehicles often stay far from the frontline — beyond the effective range of many Vampires, but still within reach of nimble FPVs. FPVs also handle Russian jamming more effectively, thanks to their ability to switch control frequencies mid-flight — an edge bulkier drones lack.

“FPVs, even with an effectiveness rate of 30–40%, cause more damage than the Vampire,” said Andrii of the 59th Brigade.

Ukraine teaches NATO to hunt Russia’s Frankenstein drones

Russia, meanwhile, is still playing catch-up — with no counterpart to the Baba Yaga and a drone fleet that trails badly in both design and deployment.

“Ukraine invested in its fleet of larger, long-range drones as a response to Russia’s investment in Shahed/Geran drones,” observed Samuel Bendett, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

He adds that Russia seems content with the performance of its Geran drones, having produced them by the thousands and prioritized their low cost and mass deployment — although points out that these systems serve a different purpose.

Gardiner notes that Moscow has talked up its plans for a homegrown drone industry, yet it failed to deliver.

“There have been indications that Russian drone units have been forbidden to make direct purchases without permission from above,” he adds.

In the meantime, Russian units have resorted to bizarre improvisations, including the “Vobla,” a jerry-rigged drone with four quadcopters connected to a single flight controller.

Ukraine’s latest export: combat expertise the Pentagon wants to buy

While Russia leans on improvised workarounds, Ukraine’s drone innovation is drawing international attention, with Kyiv marketing itself as Europe’s future defense hub.

According to Branislav Slantchev, a political science professor at UC San Diego, Ukrainian specialists are now training NATO personnel in Poland and the UK. They have even consulted the Pentagon on how to use American weapons more effectively in combat — a testament to how far Ukraine’s defense innovation has advanced.

“Ukraine’s defense industry will be massive as well. It was a critical hub in Soviet production and will now be part of Europe’s,” he says.

In this dynamics, Ukraine’s growing defense industry is part of a larger shift — one that positions the country not just as a supplier, but as a cornerstone of Europe’s security architecture.

“Europe needs Ukraine as a shield. We have the biggest army on the continent. We are the only ones with an army that knows how to contain Russia.” Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief, said. “The only one with an army that knows how to wage modern, high-tech warfare.”

The 1,000-drone barrage that could tip the war

However, Ukraine’s technological edge won’t last unchallenged. Russia is rapidly catching up — and in some areas, pulling ahead, such as with fiber optic drones.

Russian strike drones are now reaching deep into Ukraine’s rear — including the Kramatorsk–Dobropillia highway, a key supply route located more than 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) behind the front line. These attacks are being carried out with fixed-wing “Molniya” drones and the smaller “Tyuvik,” a modified version of the Iranian-made Shahed drone.

A Russian kamikaze drone was also reportedly using AI and machine learning to enhance targeting, scanning highways for military vehicles, and recently adapting to evade interceptor drones.

Amid these developments, some Ukrainian experts are sounding the alarm. Maria Berlinska, head of the Air Intelligence Support Center, warned that Russia may soon be capable of launching over 1,000 Shahed-type strike drones per day.

“By the end of May 2025, we are starting to fall further and further behind in the technological race,” she says. “In a number of areas, parity still exists, but in general, the Russians are increasingly ahead.”

She attributs this shift to something more structural than battlefield improvisation.

“We lasted for more than three years. But these solutions are increasingly being surpassed by systemic, monumental scientific projects from joint Russian-Iranian-Chinese engineering teams,” Berlinska says.

These warnings underscore a growing anxiety within Ukraine’s defense tech community: the innovation gap is narrowing. Oleksandr Yakovenko, who leads one of Ukraine’s leading drone companies, warned that while Ukraine previously was two steps ahead of the Russians, now they’re only “one step ahead of them.”

That concern extends far beyond the present battlefield. Tatarigami, a former Ukrainian officer and open-source intelligence analyst, warned that unless Russia suffers a major defeat or economic collapse, it could use the coming years to build and stockpile equipment.

“If Russia spends several years building and stockpiling equipment while leveraging Chinese industry and Western parts, its future military will be more modern and technologically advanced than during the 2022 invasion,” he wrote.

Ukraine’s Ukroboronprom is already assembling Czech CZ BREN 2 rifles under license, with partial component production ongoing. The company could begin manufacturing complete rifles within a few months, a representative of Czech arms manufacturer Česká zbrojovka told ČTK, Radio Prague, reports.

Ukroboronprom began licensed assembly in 2024

The Ukrainian state-owned defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom announced in November 2024 that it had begun licensed assembly of the Czech assault rifles. At that time, it was already noted that the aim was to eventually transition from simple assembly to full local production, Radio Prague says.

Assembly ongoing, full production ahead

Currently, Ukraine is carrying out licensed assembly of CZ BREN 2 rifles and has already established local manufacturing of select components. Radek Hauerland, external relations manager for Česká zbrojovka, stated:

“This is already working. The first step is assembly and production of small parts. The next step is full production, meaning transfer of complete technology to Ukraine.”

He added that full production is a highly complex process, requiring specialized technology. However, a licensed facility in Ukraine could begin manufacturing complete rifles within a few months.

“It’s impossible to say exactly. You have to go step by step, from simpler things to more complex ones,” Hauerland said.

According to him, the Ukrainian enterprise could handle production volumes of tens of thousands of rifles per year.

Part of a broader arms partnership with Czech industry

Česká zbrojovka is part of Czechia-based Colt CZ Group, which also includes Sellier & Bellot, a manufacturer of ammunition for small arms. Sellier & Bellot has signed an agreement to produce several types of its ammunition at a new cartridge plant in Ukraine, using technology provided by the Czech side. Colt, a well-known American firearms’ manufacturer, became part of the Czech group several years ago.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said China has stopped selling drones to Ukraine and Western countries while continuing to supply them to Russia, Bloomberg reported on May 29.

"Chinese Mavic is open for Russians but is closed for Ukrainians," Zelensky told reporters, referring to the popular quadcopter drone manufactured by China's DJI.

"There are production lines on Russian territory where there are Chinese representatives," he added, according to Bloomberg.

The Mavic, typically a civilian drone used for aerial photography, has been adapted by both Ukrainian and Russian forces for battlefield surveillance and as a weapon platform capable of carrying explosives.

Drones have played a decisive role in the war, with both sides using them for reconnaissance and precision attacks.

On April 7, Zelensky announced that Ukraine would scale up production of unmanned systems "to the maximum," including long-range, ground-based, and fiber-optic drones, which are resistant to electronic warfare.

Zelensky's recent remarks reportedly align with assessments from European officials. One official told Bloomberg that China has not only restricted drone exports to Ukraine and other Western buyers, but has also reduced shipments of drone components, including motor magnets, while ramping up deliveries to Russia.

"When someone is asking whether China is helping Russia, how shall we assess these steps?" Zelensky said.

Beijing has repeatedly denied aiding either side with military goods. On May 27, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also rejected claims made by Ukrainian intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko, who alleged that Beijing provided special chemicals, gunpowder, and other defense-related materials to at least 20 Russian military-industrial facilities.

Ivashchenko also said that as of early 2025, 80% of critical electronic components in Russian drones were of Chinese origin. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated that China has "never provided lethal weapons" and "strictly controls dual-use items."  

Despite its claims of neutrality, Beijing has deepened economic and strategic ties with Moscow, prompting Western concerns and NATO's designation of China as a “decisive enabler” of Russian aggression.

Exclusive: Ukraine eyes new sanctions on China, but Kyiv wary of peace talks fallout

Ukraine faces a difficult balancing act — sanctioning more Chinese firms for aiding Russia’s war machine without alienating Beijing, which could be key to ending Russia’s invasion. Kyiv is currently considering imposing new sanctions against Chinese firms providing raw materials to Russia’s defense sector, a source close to

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Ukraine has deployed a new artificial intelligence-powered "mother drone" for the first time, marking a major step in the country's expanding use of autonomous battlefield technology, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced on May 29.

The drone system, developed by Ukraine's defense tech cluster Brave1, can deliver two AI-guided FPV (first-person view) strike drones up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) behind enemy lines, according to Fedorov. Once released, the smaller drones can autonomously locate and hit high-value targets, including aircraft, air defense systems, and critical infrastructure — all without using GPS.

"The system uses visual-inertial navigation with cameras and LiDAR to guide the drones, while AI independently identifies and selects targets," Fedorov said.

The system, called SmartPilot, allows the carrier drone to return and be reused for missions within a 100-kilometer range. Each operation costs around $10,000 — hundreds of times cheaper than a conventional missile strike, Fedorov said.

The development comes as Ukraine continues to ramp up domestic drone production. On April 7, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country would scale up production of unmanned systems "to the maximum," including long-range, ground-based, and fiber-optic drones, which are resistant to electronic warfare.

Ukraine has leaned heavily on technological innovation to offset its disadvantages in manpower and firepower since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. The use of drones, aerial, naval, and ground-based, has become a central feature of both sides' strategies in the war.

Fedorov said Ukraine will continue investing in Ukrainian systems that "change the rules of the game in technological warfare."

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

An Avangard electronics plant reportedly caught fire in the Russian city of St. Petersburg following a series of explosions, local Telegram channels and officials reported overnight on May 29.

In purported videos posted on social media, a large fire was seen rising from the factory's roof in the Kalininsky district of the city. Preliminary reports indicate that the fire began around 1 a.m. local time.

The fire is reportedly burning on the 5th floor of a 6-story building, the St. Petersburg Emergency Services Ministry said, adding that the fire covers approximately 100-square-meters.

The plant reportedly specializes in the production of microelectronics and microcircuits.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the fire, and there were no official reports of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting the region ahead of the fire.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify reports made by Russian officials.

Kyiv has previously target St. Petersburg through drone attacks on the region.

As Russia continues to reject calls for a ceasefire and the war drags on, Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on Russian territory. In particular, drone attacks in Russia have forced airport closures for several nights in a row.

A source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent on May 28 that Ukrainian long-range drones hit the Raduga enterprise in the town of Dubna in Moscow Oblast, which produces cruise missiles.

Ukrainian drones hit Russian cruise missile factory, SBU source says, in one of largest reported strikes of full-scale war

Dozens of Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defenses as they approached Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed on May 28.

The Kyiv IndependentLucy Pakhnyuk

Turkey and Belgium are set to join the international Drone Coalition supporting Ukraine, Latvia's Defense Minister Andris Spruds announced on May 28 during the Drone Summit in Riga.

The coalition, co-led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, is expected to allocate 2.75 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in 2025 to support Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression.

"The international Drone Coalition is becoming increasingly stronger — we will be able to deliver more drones to Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening the defense industries of Latvia, the EU, and NATO countries," Spruds said. "Our strength lies in unity."

With the addition of Belgium and Turkey, the Drone Coalition will grow to 20 member states. The coalition, officially launched in February 2024, includes countries such as the U.K., Germany, Canada, France, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine, among others. Each new member must be approved by existing coalition states, according to the memorandum of understanding.

Since its inception, the coalition has committed a total of 4.5 billion euros ($5 billion) in aid to Ukraine over two years, including 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion) in 2024 and the planned 2.75 billion euros ($3.1 billion) for 2025.

The Drone Coalition plays crucial role in supporting Ukraine's use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have become key in targeting Russian military infrastructure, including airfields, oil depots, and logistics hubs deep inside Russian territory.

In March, the coalition allocated 20 million euros ($22.5 million) from a joint fund to procure tactical reconnaissance drones for Ukraine, following an urgent request from Kyiv.

The coalition complements Ukraine's domestic initiatives such as the "Drone Line," launched in February, which aims to accelerate battlefield drone deployment.

Ukrainian drones hit Russian cruise missile factory, SBU source says, in one of largest reported strikes of full-scale war

Dozens of Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defenses as they approached Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed on May 28.

The Kyiv IndependentLucy Pakhnyuk

Russia seeks to produce up to 500 drones per day, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on May 27 during a press briefing, Suspilne reported.

Moscow has significantly increased the production of various drones over the past year, which it launches almost every night to attack Ukrainian cities and front-line positions.

The Russian production surge is facilitated by imports of components from China and the recruitment of low-skilled labor, including local teenagers and workers from Africa.

"They (Russian manufacturers) are preparing to produce 300-350 drones per day. This is their real situation. They were tasked with having 500 per day," Zelensky said.

Zelensky expressed doubt that Russia could launch 1,000 drones in a single attack, but acknowledged it could become possible in the future if Russia amasses enough drones over time.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine is already capable of launching up to 100 long-range drones daily, and with the support of partners, it can catch up with Russia by producing 300-350 drones every day.

"We are very close to it. The issue is not production capacity. It is a financial issue," the president added.

Zelensky also recalled a recent successful operation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which used 400 small drones simultaneously and destroyed 40 pieces of Russian military hardware.

"We will show them much more than this operation," Zelensky said. Ukraine has been rapidly developing its domestic arms industry since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Ukraine more than doubled its production of long-range drones in 2024 compared to the previous year, which is a 22-fold increase compared to 2022. In total, 324 new types of weapons were developed in Ukraine by the end of 2024, according to Ukraine's Strategic Industries Ministry.

Ukraine has also turned to local production to address battlefield shortages and reduce dependency on foreign supplies, including new domestic artillery contracts.

If Germany sends Taurus missiles to Ukraine, Russia has a major Crimean Bridge problem

A statement from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on May 26 about long-range strikes inside Russia resurrected a long-held hope in Ukraine — that Berlin is finally about to send Kyiv its Taurus missiles. “There are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine — neither by the U.

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is working to build capacity for producing 300-350 drones per day. He made the statement during a meeting with journalists.

This announcment comes after Ukraine experienced Russian attack with 439 Shahed-type drones on 26 May, an all-time record. In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered separate funding to be allocated to Ukraine’s ballistic missile program to accelerate the production of ultra-fast missiles. 

On 27 May, Zelenskyy met with journalists, revealing that Russia is preparing for production of 300–350 drones per day.

“This is their real situation. They received a task to have 500 per day. I don’t think they have this,“ the president said, according to Suspilne.

Zelenskyy did not rule out that Russia could accumulate stocks and launch up to 1,000 drones against Ukraine on certain days.

“I don’t accept the figure of 1,000, although we must understand that they can accumulate for several days, and then there will be such a day. You can’t say this won’t happen,” he explained.

The president described a recent successful Ukrainian operation using large numbers of drones. Ukraine struck simultaneously with 400 small drones and destroyed more than 40 pieces of equipment at once, according to Zelenskyy.

“We took such a step. It was used exclusively by the military on the battlefield. And we will demonstrate to them many times more than this operation,” he said.

Ukrainian forces are using Mirage and F-16 aircraft to shoot down Russian drones, Zelenskyy said. Ukraine is also developing drone interceptors that can fight unmanned aerial vehicles at high altitude.

Ukraine has the technology but needs funding to scale up production, according to Zelenskyy. He cited Germany as a potential source of financing for interceptor production.

“I say that I have a range of questions for Germany. And one of them is financing interceptors, financing domestic production. We spend more than we planned. Because everyone is developing, the ‘Russians’ are developing, and our new technologies are appearing,” he said.

The German government has explicitly stated earlier that it will not provide fighter jets to Ukraine, citing a lack of available F-16s and the complexity of training and logistical support required for different aircraft types. The Mirage 2000 jets have been supplied to Ukraine by France, as part of a military aid package announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in June 2024, with the first jets arriving in Ukraine in February 2025.

Zelesnkyy also said during the meeting that Ukraine can already launch up to 100 long-range drones daily. With partner support, Ukraine could match Russia’s drone production levels.

“I think Ukraine also needs to have a thousand drones. By the way, long-range drones, which are complex – we can use 100 per day. And we will have the same as the ‘Russians’, 300–500 per day. We are very close to this. The question is not about production capabilities. The question is financial,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 27 that Ukraine is fully mobilizing its domestic industrial base to scale up production of drones, missiles, and other weapons systems, as the country braces for continued large-scale Russian attacks.

From May 24 to 26, Russian forces fired more than 600 drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine, with the third night amounting to the single largest drone attack of the full-scale war.

Zelensky's remarks followed a high-level meeting with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Anatolii Hnatov, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

"The agenda included planning our actions, our readiness to respond to Russian strikes, to their threats, and taking preventive measures, which means increasing the production of our drones and our missiles," the president said during his evening address.

He added that "hundreds of Ukrainian companies are already producing results for Ukraine’s Defense Forces, with more to follow." Zelensky said the government is fully mobilizing "entrepreneurial capacity for weapons production" and plans to sign new agreements with European partners to attract investment, focusing on unmanned systems and long-range capabilities.

While the government cannot publicly disclose its existing plans or capabilities, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine must "respond symmetrically to all Russian threats" and Moscow must "clearly feel the consequences of what they are doing against Ukraine. And they will."

"Attack drones, interceptors, cruise missiles, Ukrainian ballistic systems – these are the key elements. We must manufacture all of them," he said.

In the meantime, the Trump administration has spent months trying to broker a peace deal in Ukraine. However, direct talks in Istanbul failed to yield a ceasefire, and during a May 19 phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin once again rejected calls for a 30-day truce.

Despite this, Trump has refused to impose new sanctions on Moscow so far, but said on May 25 that new sanctions could be on the table: "I’ve always gotten along with him," Trump said of Putin. "But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people (...) We're in the middle of talking and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all."

Sanctions on Russia are working, Ukraine just needs more

Sanctions on their own won’t end the war, but they are a crucial tool in the West’s efforts to pressure Putin.

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Russia is expanding its missile reserves, increasing drone production, and modifying drone technologies as part of a long-term military strategy to achieve its war objectives in Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on 26 May. These developments signal Russia’s full commitment to securing victory through military means in a protracted conflict, according to the think tank.

ISW stated that Russia’s growing stockpile of ballistic missiles, rising drone output, and ongoing drone adaptations demonstrate a sustained effort to strengthen its strike capabilities. The Economist, citing Ukrainian government sources on 25 May, reported that Russia has accumulated around 500 ballistic missiles. At the same time, Moscow is reportedly producing about 100 Shahed explosive drones per day — roughly four to five times the daily output estimated in late 2024.

Ukrainian military intelligence told The Economist that Russia intends to increase this drone production to 500 units per day, although no specific deadline was mentioned. Engineers in Ukraine noted that Russian forces are actively modifying Shahed drones to overcome Ukrainian electronic warfare systems. These upgrades include the use of artificial intelligence and integration with Ukrainian internet and mobile networks for improved navigation.

Following a record 355-drone attack, Russia launches 60 drones—Ukraine intercepts most

New Shahed tactics

A Ukrainian officer interviewed by The Economist stated that Russian drones are flying at altitudes of 2,000 to 2,500 meters, beyond the effective range of small arms and shoulder-fired missiles used by Ukrainian mobile air defense units. On 25 May, Lieutenant Andriy Kovalenko, Head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, reported that Russian forces had set a new altitude record with a Shahed drone flight reaching 4,900 meters.

Colonel Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force, confirmed on 26 May that Russia is producing both Shahed and decoy drones in higher numbers and deploying them at higher altitudes. Ihnat also noted that Russian forces resumed the use of Kh-22 cruise missiles after a period of reduced deployment. According to ISW, the resurgence of large-scale missile and drone strike packages aligns with Russia’s broader strategy of enhancing its domestic weapons production and long-term war preparations.

ISW: Russia ramps up missile strikes and propaganda in bid to crush Ukrainian morale and Western will

Russia’s goals unchanged, but it economy struggles 

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service Chief Oleh Ivashchenko said in a 26 May Ukrinform interview that Russia’s goal of full control over Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts remains unchanged. He warned that Russia is also preparing for a future conflict with NATO, in line with ISW’s assessments.

“ISW also continues to assess that the Russian government and military are preparing for a possible future conflict with NATO. Russian authorities recently renewed their years-long narrative rejecting the legality of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, likely to set conditions for Russia to deny the independence and sovereignty of other former Soviet states in the future,” the think tank wrote.

WP: Trump softens on Putin as Russian battlefield edge declines

Ivashchenko noted Russia’s economic struggles, with its sovereign wealth fund reduced to $38 billion from $150 billion pre-invasion, and highlighted reliance on Soviet-era equipment. He stated that foreign aid from North Korea, China, and Belarus is playing a growing role in Russia’s defense industry.

“Russia’s efforts to increase domestic drone and missile production and ongoing adaptations of these strike packages are likely part of a broader Russian effort to prepare for a protracted war in Ukraine and possibly a future war with NATO,” ISW wrote.

Ukraine will increase interceptor drone and ballistic missile funding amid increased Russian drone and missile attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening address on May 26.

"I instructed a significant increase in the production of our interceptor drones, and we will be engaging more funding from our partners to support this," Zelensky said.

"I also ordered dedicated funding for Ukraine’s ballistic missile program to accelerate missile production," he added.

Russia has intensified aerial attacks against Ukraine in recent days. On May 26, Russia launched its third large-scale aerial and drone assault against Ukraine in three nights, killing at least six people and injuring 24 across the country.

The attack marked the most extensive drone strike against Ukraine during the full-scale war, topping the previous record of 298 drones just a day earlier on May 25.

Russia launched over 900 strike drones over the last three days, in addition to cruise and ballistic missiles, Zelensky said.

"Over 900 attack drones launched against Ukraine in just three days, along with ballistic and cruise missiles. There is no military logic in this, but it is a clear political choice — the choice of Putin, the choice of Russia — the choice to keep waging war and destroying lives."

Ukraine and Russia held peace talks in Istanbul on May 16, where both sides agreed to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange.

The peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were largely inconclusive, with Moscow reiterating maximalist demands and sending a delegation of lower-level officials.

Despite the peace talks in Turkey, Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks against Ukraine.

Russia launched nine Kh-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS bomber planes and a record number of 355 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine's Air Force reported on May 26.

Ukraine war latest: West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says

Key developments on May 26: * West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says * Russia launches record 355 drones at Ukraine; 6 killed, 24 injured over past 24 hours * Russian drone production site, chemical plant targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike * Netherlands to send last of

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Editor's note: The article was updated after the EU formally adopted the plan.

The EU formally adopted a 150-billion-euro ($170 billion) defense loan instrument amid Russia's war against Ukraine, the Council of the EU announced on May 27.

The EU reached an agreement to launch the $170 billion common defense fund on May 21 as Europe faces an increasingly challenging security environment. Russia continues to wage its war against Ukraine, and Europe is growing uncertain of U.S. security commitments to the continent.

The Security Action For Europe (SAFE) initiative will offer $170 billion in loans without counting towards EU fiscal spending limits.

SAFE is an EU loan instrument meant to prop up the continent's defense industry by financing weapons procurement to eligible countries. It also aims to "boost production capacity, making sure defense equipment is available when needed, and to address existing capability gaps," the Council of the EU said in a statement.

"This is an unprecedented instrument which will boost our defense capabilities and support our defense industry. The more we invest in our security and defense, the better we deter those who wish us harm," said Adam Szlapka, Poland's European affairs minister.

The EU's member states, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members, and Ukraine are eligible to borrow funds from the defense spending instrument.

The EU "would effectively double the volume of weapons Ukraine receives" by investing in domestic weapons production through the SAFE mechanism, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on May 4.

"If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin isn’t convinced by (U.S. President Donald) Trump to make peace, we could bring forward more convincing arguments for peace very quickly — by greatly increasing our military support to Ukraine," Kubilius said.

The commissioner called for EU members to utilize the bloc's SAFE initiative to strengthen Ukraine in its fight against Russia's war.

The fund is part of the European Commission's ambitious ReArm Europe program, which allows member states to spend an additional 650 billion euros ($730 billion) on defense by loosening fiscal rules.

Why did Russia invade Ukraine? Debunking Putin’s ‘root causes’ claims

As Russia continues to bombard cities and towns across Ukraine, Russian officials have hardened their position against a ceasefire, continuing to repeat the obscure demand that the war’s “root causes” be addressed before agreeing to any truce. For months, the phrase “root causes” has become a go-to talking point

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

Russia’s mobilization reserve may include as many as 25 million people — those with military obligations or past service — from its total population of 145 million. However, only about 3 million of them are considered properly trained and combat-capable, according to the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, the country has mobilized 1.3 million people, while sustaining nearly one million casualties in killed and wounded, said Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service chief Oleh Ivashchenko in an interview with Ukrinform.

“Russia has approximately 145 million inhabitants. The mobilization resource consists of 25 million people. These are those who have relevant military registration or related specialties. And these are the labor resources that drive the economy. But only 3 million are actually trained,” Ivashchenko said.

Ivashchenko also detailed significant constraints in Russia’s defense production capabilities.

“They are trying to reach maximum output, but it’s difficult for them. They need investments, machine tools, components, and there are problems with this. Electronics and specialized chemistry are particularly challenging,” Ivashchenko stated.

The Foreign Intelligence head also revealed that 80% of Russia’s current military equipment consists of older systems with reduced capabilities, retrieved from storage facilities, repaired, and deployed to combat zone, while only 20% represents modern military systems.

Regarding ammunition production, Russia manufactures approximately 3 million artillery shells of 122mm and 152mm caliber annually. The country supplements this domestic production with 2.5 to 3 million additional shells from North Korea each year.

Ivashchenko reported that Russia has acquired 6 million shells from North Korea since the full-scale war began. North Korea has also provided military hardware including 120 units of 170mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery systems and 120 units of M1991 240mm multiple rocket launcher systems.

Earlier, Dutch military intelligence warned that Russia is producing significantly more artillery than needed for its war in Ukraine, with support from other countries, and is moving new military units toward NATO borders, especially in the Baltic states and Finland. Dutch officials stressed that, while an immediate attack is not expected, Europe must prepare for the possibility of future Russian aggression.

Recently, US intelligence also indicated that Russian President Putin is prepared to continue the war against Ukraine through at least the end of 2025, viewing the conflict as central to his personal legacy and the future of his regime.

Despite significant losses and international sanctions, Putin is determined to achieve his objectives in Ukraine and shows no signs of willingness to negotiate a meaningful peace. The Kremlin is mobilizing resources and adapting its strategy to sustain military operations, while also intensifying efforts to undermine Western support for Ukraine through propaganda, cyberattacks, and political interference.