Russia Selenskyj: One million drones built for armed forces

According to official figures, the Ukrainian arms industry has already built and delivered one million drones in various designs for the armed forces. "And that's just what the state is doing," said President Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video address. In addition to the state-financed orders, the private sector and foreign allies are also contributing drones for the war against Russia. Arms Minister Olexander Kamyshin reported to Zelenskyi on the current status of drone production before his video address at a meeting of the top army leadership.

In view of the changes in warfare, Ukraine has quickly reoriented itself towards the use of drones as a new means of combat. The unmanned aerial vehicles are not only comparatively easy and quick to produce, they can also be used without great risk because soldiers do not have to risk their own lives.

Reconnaissance flights and remote-controlled speedboats

The Ukrainian arms industry and the private sector have been increasingly supplying drones to the front for months, from simple video drones for reconnaissance flights to combat drones and long-range kamikaze drones that can be used against targets deep in the Russian hinterland. Remote-controlled sea drones, speedboats loaded with explosives, are also part of the Ukrainian arsenal.

With this comparatively new type of weapon, the Ukrainian military is supplementing its warfare with classic weapon systems such as artillery, infantry and combat aircraft. Special drone units have been supporting the troops' operations on the front line for several months. However, the Russian armed forces are also relying on drones on a large scale in their war of aggression.

Selensky expressed his thanks to all those involved for keeping the Ukrainian army technologically up to date. He thanked "all Ukrainian manufacturers, the public sector and all partners who are investing in the production of drones in Ukraine". Production will be further expanded.

The Ukrainian armed forces also receive drones from foreign partners. Lithuania, for example, will deliver 1,000 combat drones to Ukraine in the next few days, according to the Ministry of Defense in Vilnius. The government of the Baltic state has ordered more than 7,000 combat drones from local manufacturers for eight million euros. A good 2,300 of these are destined for its own army and just under 5,000 for the Ukrainian armed forces. After the first batch, the remaining drones are to be delivered by the end of this year.

In the evening, the Russian military reported the arrival of a Ukrainian swarm of drones in the Bryansk region in the south-west of the country. The air defense system shot down 16 drones, the state agency Tass reported, citing the Ministry of Defense. No further details, such as the target of the drones or the number of aircraft that were not shot down, were provided.

Late in the evening, the Ukrainian military reported the arrival of a Russian swarm of kamikaze drones that had crossed the city of Kherson in the south of the country and continued their flight in a north-westerly direction.

Consultations on North Korea's role

According to Selensky, the meeting of the top military leadership dealt with the current situation on the fronts and intelligence reports on the intentions of the Russian military for the fall and winter. The deployment of North Korean soldiers in the ranks of Russian troops and "the actual involvement of North Korea in the war" were also discussed once again.

Meanwhile, the Russian armed forces are continuing to put the Ukrainian army under heavy pressure on various fronts. "Active operations are now taking place along the entire length of the front line, but the fighting is particularly fierce in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions," Selensky announced on Platform X.

In addition, Russian troops have been attacking Ukrainian positions in the western Russian region of Kursk for days. "The guys are holding out and conducting counterattacks," reported the president. The Ukrainian army had advanced deep into the Russian border region in a surprise attack in the summer.

Recently, Ukrainian military officials have indicated that the situation on the front lines near Kursk has become difficult. According to the Ukrainian commander-in-chief Olexander Syrskyj, Russia has now withdrawn almost 50,000 soldiers from the front lines in southern Ukraine and deployed them to Kursk for counterattacks.

Meanwhile, the commander of the Russian "Akhmat" special forces unit spread reports of success. He claimed that almost half of the areas near Kursk captured by Ukraine had been brought back under Russian control. Neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian claims could be independently verified.

Russia rails against NATO exercise maneuvers

Meanwhile, NATO's annual maneuver for the simulated defence of the alliance's territory with nuclear weapons continues. Around 2,000 military personnel from eight air bases are taking part in the two-week "Steadfast Noon" exercise. More than 60 aircraft are also part of the training - including modern fighter jets that can transport US nuclear bombs stationed in Europe, as well as long-range bombers, surveillance and tanker aircraft.

The Russian leadership criticized the manoeuvre as an unnecessary provocation. "Against the backdrop of the hot war being waged in the Ukraine conflict, such exercises only lead to a further escalation of tensions," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia itself repeatedly holds maneuvers by its nuclear forces, has put them on heightened alert in the conflict over Ukraine and has repeatedly threatened to use its missiles.

SDA