Ukraine Plans to Launch 1,000 Drones Per Day at Russia: Zelenskyy Announces Task

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has tasked the defense industry with a significant increase in drone production, aiming for 1,000 long-range drones per day to strike targets within Russia. This ambitious goal represents a substantial escalation from the current average of over 300 daily strikes.

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The task is a thousand drones per day for long-range strikes against Russia. Currently, Ukraine carries out more than 300 such strikes per day on average. There must be more. We have a very specific goal and we will achieve this task.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the increased drone production is a direct response to Russia's intensified use of "Shahed" jet drones. He stated that these long-range strikes are intended to make Russia feel the consequences of its decision to continue the war, highlighting the need for Ukraine to accelerate the production of drones capable of countering such threats.

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It is important to significantly accelerate the production of interceptor drones, especially those designed to combat jet-powered 'Shaheds,' so that our long-range strikes make Russia feel more responsible for the decision to continue this war.

The Ukrainian president asserted that these systematic strikes on Russian infrastructure are already yielding tangible economic and logistical effects. He pointed to a decrease in gasoline reserves and exports within Russia, along with significant logistical challenges, noting that Russia is now importing gasoline for the first time in its history and is allocating state funds to support oil companies.

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Systematic strikes by the Ukrainian defense forces on targets in Russia are already having a tangible economic and logistical impact. Gasoline reserves and exports have decreased in Russia, and serious logistical problems have arisen.

Zelenskyy warned that Russia's losses will continue to mount if Moscow refuses to engage in serious negotiations to end the conflict. He referenced recent Ukrainian strikes on August 26, which targeted facilities including the "Lukoil-Nižegorodnefteorgsintez" refinery, Russia's second-largest gasoline producer, and other military and infrastructure sites across Russian territory.

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Russia's losses will increase if Moscow continues to refuse serious negotiations to end the war.