Ukraine plans to increase the number of drones used for long-range strikes against Russia to 1,000 per day. The Defence Forces currently deploy more than 300 such drones on average.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the target in an evening address published by the Office of the President.
The president said the objective was discussed at a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Particular attention was given to protecting Ukraine from jet-powered Shahed drones and accelerating the production of interceptor drones.
“The target is 1,000 drones a day for long-range sanctions against Russia. We currently average more than 300 long-range sanctions, and there must be more,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, Russia has intensified its aerial attacks on Kyiv, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, as well as the Sumy, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions. Ukraine must substantially increase interceptor production to counter jet-powered drones.
Zelenskyy also reported results from Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s oil and port infrastructure. According to military reports, no ships are currently entering or leaving the port of Novorossiysk.
The president added that Ukraine would seek ways to block other Russian ports. He also linked Ukrainian strikes to declines in Russia’s exports, logistics capacity and petrol supplies.
Zelenskyy separately said Kyiv had received information from the United States about recent meetings involving American representatives in Moscow. According to him, Ukraine values the coordination with Washington and supports the US vision of further pressure on Russia to end the war.
The president also stressed the need to accelerate legislation and government decisions required to secure funding from Ukraine’s partners. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi will report on progress every two weeks.
