Putin announces tenfold increase in Russian drone production in 2024

President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that Russia is significantly ramping up drone production, aiming to nearly 1.4 million units this year. This increase represents a tenfold boost in output as part of efforts to secure victory in Ukraine.

“In total, about 140,000 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were delivered to the armed forces in 2023,” Putin said, as quoted by news agency, Reuters. “This year, the production of drones is planned to increase significantly. Well, to be more precise, almost 10 times.”

“Whoever reacts faster to these demands on the battlefield wins,” Putin stated at a meeting in St Petersburg focused on drone production, Reuters stated.

Since Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine began in February 2022, the conflict has heavily relied on artillery and drone strikes along a 1,000-km (620-mile) front, involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

The war, highlighted the crucial role of drones in modern warfare, including their use in terrorising infantry, gathering intelligence, sabotaging infrastructure, and attacking arsenals.

Both Russia and Ukraine have expanded their drone capabilities, with drone videos showcasing the battlefield’s impact, including deadly strikes on infantry, artillery, and tanks.

Putin noted that Russia is making nearly weekly advancements in drone technology and emphasised the need to enhance drone defences to counteract attacks.

“The key task is to produce a wide range of aerial unmanned vehicles, to establish serial production as quickly as possible,” Putin added.

Meanwhile, Russian forces launched a new wave of airstrikes on Thursday, hitting a geriatric centre and targeting the energy sector in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, according to Ukrainian officials, Reuters reported. The strikes resulted in at least one civilian death.

The UN monitoring body indicated that the attacks on the power grid likely violated humanitarian law, while the International Energy Agency reported that Ukraine’s electricity supply shortfall during the critical winter months could reach about a third of the expected peak demand.

During the daytime attack on Sumy, a Russian guided bomb struck a five-storey building housing approximately 211 elderly residents. The interior ministry reported on Telegram that one person was killed and 12 others were wounded. Rescuers assisted disabled individuals in evacuating the premises.

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