International-News

Russia, record drone production: 30,000 per year and mass attacks

According to the New York Times, Moscow is focusing on quantity and new tactics, challenging Kyiv and NATO

Three years after the first Iranian UAV launches, Russia has taken drone warfare to a new level. In a single night last week, Moscow sent over 800 explosive drones against Ukraine. This is the result of domestic production that has reached around 30,000 units per year, with the aim – as indicated by the Kremlin – of saturating air defences and striking military installations, energy infrastructure and cities.

Kiev under pressure
At the beginning of the conflict, Ukraine enjoyed a technological advantage, but Russia’s industrial expansion has tipped the balance. In 2025 alone, Moscow has already launched over 34,000 attack drones and decoy devices, almost nine times more than in the same period in 2024. Kiev claims to have intercepted 88% of them, down from 93% the previous year. In a single raid at the beginning of the month, 805 drones were deployed: 63 reached their targets, striking 33 locations.

Threat beyond Ukraine’s borders
The pressure is also being felt in Europe. At least 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace between Tuesday and Wednesday, while Romania intercepted one aircraft on Saturday. According to the New York Times, these incidents show the difficulties NATO faces in countering attacks of this magnitude.

Industrial mobilisation and foreign alliances
Behind the production push is extensive involvement from regional governments, factories and even high school students. Russia has leveraged its relationships with Iran and China for know-how and components, and aims to double its production capacity by 2026. Foreign students and workers are participating in assembly lines, while in Vladivostok, Russian regions presented their own drone lines at a national economic forum.

Objective: terror and attrition
Moscow claims to be targeting only military facilities, but hospitals, schools and residential neighbourhoods are often hit, spreading terror and seeking to undermine the resistance of the Ukrainian population. Kiev, which continues to conduct targeted attacks deep into Russian territory, is forced to adapt its tactics and defences to cope with an increasingly massive threat.

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