Zelensky announced a large-scale increase in the production of Ukrainian drones to strengthen defense
During a recent meeting of the Technological Headquarters, Volodymyr Zelensky personally took control of the development of unmanned systems and their production, defining strategic goals for strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities. This is an important initiative aimed at significantly increasing the state's production capacity and providing the army with high-tech weapons capable of withstanding the challenges of modernity and the aggression of the Russian Federation. The meeting, which brought together senior officials from the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Strategic Industries and Ukrainian intelligence, was devoted to discussing strategies for increasing the production of unmanned aircraft and their technical improvement. The participants paid special attention to the issue of financing, creating an effective regulatory framework and mechanisms for rapid adaptation of enterprises to the needs of the front and the security of peaceful cities. An analysis was conducted to track the technological plans of the Russian Federation in the field of unmanned systems, as well as to develop measures to counter enemy drones. The head of state emphasized that Ukraine should maximize the production of unmanned aerial vehicles, taking into account modern trends in military technology. “Our main goal is to do everything possible to ensure that we have drone models that meet not only the needs of the front, but also ensure the safety of the population of cities. We must take into account the enemy’s ability to quickly update its technologies,” the president’s press service quotes. He emphasized that Ukrainian enterprises, both public and private, should receive a full range of opportunities for scaling up production in order to meet the growing demand for combat-ready equipment. Special emphasis during the meeting was placed on creating effective means of intercepting and destroying enemy drones, which is currently one of the key priorities of Ukraine’s security sector. According to Zelensky, instructions have already been received to implement specific measures in this area; the details are currently being kept secret in order to maintain an advantage over the enemy. The head of state assured that these measures will be aimed at increasing the production volumes or improving the technical characteristics of Ukrainian drones. The president also announced that work is being intensified on introducing new sanctions against Russia as part of strengthening the defense component. The European Union is already preparing the 18th package of restrictive measures, and the United Kingdom and Canada have introduced additional sanctions aimed primarily at officials of the occupation authorities and the Kremlin's military structures. "We are working closely with the G7 countries and key partners to ensure that all restrictions are applied as effectively as possible. And we demand the same approach to Ukrainian jurisdiction," he emphasized. Zelensky also emphasized responsibility for war crimes and economic support for the occupation. According to him, sanctions should apply not only to Russia, but also to all individuals and companies involved in activities in the temporarily occupied territories in order to complicate the financial and technological potential of the aggressor. “We will not allow Russia to adapt to new conditions, and I thank our partners for their support. At the same time, I am grateful to every Ukrainian who fights every day for the independence and security of our country,” Zelensky concluded his words. In the context of strategic plans, it is reported that even in a year Ukraine will be able to establish the production of up to 8 million unmanned aerial vehicles, which will significantly strengthen the defense potential. At the same time, experts warn that Russia is trying to get closer to the ability to simultaneously deploy up to a thousand strike drones, which necessitates the further improvement of Ukrainian systems - some of the newest models no longer depend on GPS navigation systems, are controlled by artificial intelligence or through Telegram bots, which allows operators to receive video and flight data in real time. Overall, this strategy is a sign of how high a priority the security and defense technology sector is for Kyiv in the face of large-scale aggression. Ukraine seeks not only to modernize its defense systems, but also to create a powerful, independent defense complex capable of resisting and winning in modern war conditions.