A Ukrainian drone has struck a Russian industrial plant located 800 miles from Ukraine, a local official reported. This strike follows Kyiv’s increased focus on drone development and a record number of drone attacks launched by Russia against Ukraine in the previous month.
Both sides in the conflict are actively working to improve their drone technology and optimize its use on the battlefield. They are deploying drones that are becoming increasingly sophisticated and lethal, effectively turning the war into a testing ground for these new weapons.
Ukraine is facing intense pressure from a Russian offensive along the 620-mile front line, though analysts suggest that Ukrainian defenses are largely holding. With recent attempts at direct talks failing to produce any progress in US-led international efforts to stop the fighting, both Moscow and Kyiv are bolstering their military capabilities.
According to data compiled by the Associated Press, Russia launched a record 5,438 drones at Ukraine in June.
Concurrently, a Ukrainian drone targeted an industrial plant in Izhevsk, approximately 620 miles east of Moscow, causing injuries and a fire, according to Izhevsk regional governor Alexander Brechalov. He also stated that workers at the plant were evacuated.
For several months, Ukraine has been employing domestically produced long-range drones to strike targets deep within Russian territory, including plants, storage facilities, and logistical centers.
Andrii Kovalenko, who heads the counter-disinformation branch of Ukraine’s Security Council, stated that Tuesday’s target was a local plant involved in the production of Russian drones and air defense systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine’s domestic drone production is poised to increase in response to Russia’s escalated drone barrages.
“The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones,” he said late on Monday.
“This is extremely important,” he added. “Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures.”
Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that 60 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over various regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region, and four over the Saratov region.
However, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzia during the night, resulting in power outages for more than 1,600 households, according to local authorities.
Ukraine’s air force reported on Tuesday that Russia launched 52 Shahed and decoy drones at the country overnight.
Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, criticized Moscow for continuing to target civilian areas in Ukraine while simultaneously rejecting a ceasefire and delaying a peace settlement.
“We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war,” he said late on Monday. “Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.”
Ukraine is developing its own defense industry amid ongoing uncertainty regarding whether the Trump administration will continue to provide crucial military aid.
According to Germany’s Kiel Institute, the US allocated no new aid to Ukraine between March and April.
The institute also noted last month that European support has surpassed the US in total military aid for the first time since June 2022, reaching 72 billion euros (£61 billion) compared to 65 billion euros (£55 billion) from the US.
