St. Petersburg, Sep 21 (V7N) — Amid escalating drone strikes by Ukrainian forces, including recent attacks on Russia’s Teva region, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a dramatic increase in drone production. At a meeting of the Russian Military-Industrial Commission in St. Petersburg on Thursday, Putin announced plans to boost drone manufacturing to approximately 1.4 million units this year—a tenfold increase from current levels.

The Russian president highlighted that around 140,000 drones have already been supplied to the Russian armed forces in 2023, adding that the decision has been made to significantly scale up production to enhance Russia’s drone capabilities. Putin also emphasised the importance of modern weaponry and drones on the battlefield, stating that “those who are ahead in the use of drones and modern weapons will win.”

The increase in drone production is seen as a direct response to the Ukrainian military's growing reliance on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently warned of further intensification of strikes on Russian territories in the coming days.

According to reports from Reuters and Tehran-based Perstud, political analysts suggest that the increased drone production will likely support Russia’s ongoing war efforts in Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine have turned to drone warfare as a low-cost, manpower-efficient method for launching attacks.

Ukraine, in particular, has faced significant challenges in defending against Russian Kamikaze drones, which NATO has accused Russia of sourcing from Iran. While both Russia and Iran have denied these claims, the use of these drones has become a key feature of the conflict.

Amid these challenges, experts speculate that Ukraine may seek assistance from Israel for drone defense technology. However, no substantial progress has been made on this front. Additionally, neither the European Union nor the United States have been able to provide Ukraine with effective defense measures against Kamikaze drones, leaving Kyiv vulnerable to further strikes.

With both nations ramping up their drone production and capabilities, drone warfare is becoming an increasingly critical element in the ongoing conflict.

END/AJ/MSS