Russia deploying additional forces to counter Ukrainian UAVs and planning to produce 7.3 million FPV drones

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has reported that, based on intelligence data, Russia is deploying a further four regiments, 24 battalions and 162 batteries to counter Ukrainian strike drones.

Source: General Syrskyi on social media

Quote: "I received a report from a military intelligence agency on the development of the unmanned systems forces of the aggressor state. For 2026, Russia plans to produce 7.3 million FPV drones and 7.8 million warheads for UAVs of various types. The enemy is increasing supplies to its troops of strike drones with turbojet engines. We see this, analyse it and factor it into our own planning.

At the same time, the enemy is urgently deploying, outside approved plans, a further four regiments, 24 battalions and 162 batteries to counter our strike UAVs. It is strengthening the layered air defence cover of Moscow and Krasnodar Krai. In effect, the Russians are scaling their unmanned systems forces by copying Ukrainian solutions – technical, tactical and organisational. The same applies to the use of electronic warfare assets in border oblasts."

Details: Syrskyi also asserts that despite all the challenges, Ukraine's defence forces continue to maintain the initiative and set the pace. The commander-in-chief recalled that for the fifth consecutive month, unmanned systems units from Ukraine's defence forces alone are wiping out more Russian personnel than Russia manages to mobilise into its armed forces.

Syrskyi reported that during April, Ukraine's unmanned systems carried out nearly 357,000 combat missions; struck over 160,700 verified targets – 2% more than in March; suppressed over 7,700 Russian UAV operator positions; and struck 424 Russian facilities at distances of 20-250 kilometres using mid-range strike assets.

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