Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced ambitious plans to significantly increase the country’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production and artillery capabilities in 2024. During a press conference, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will produce 1 million drones next year.
Responding to a question relayed from the military, President Zelenskyy expressed his positive stance on Ukraine’s state-level initiative to mass-produce drones, including FPV and standardized ammunition for them. He emphasized the need for specialized infrastructure for drone management, a statement reflecting the country’s modernization efforts in military technology.
President Zelenskyy also conveyed his dissatisfaction with lingering Soviet-era bureaucratic processes in Ukraine, which he views as impediments to efficient drone delivery to the front lines. He assured that Ukrainian military brigades would receive domestically produced drones, highlighting a significant push in UAV manufacturing.
“As for production, we are making one million drones next year. We will make a million. We will do everything to make it so, and I know that it will be so,” Zelenskyy said.
Alongside this, he mentioned an increase in artillery, specifically 155-mm caliber shells, while noting the current challenges and scarcity in acquiring sufficient ammunition.
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