Ukraine is currently mass-producing combat drones with a range of over 1,000 kilometers

Ukraine has begun serial production of attack drones with a range of over 1,000 kilometers, the head of the state-owned Ukrainian Defense Industry Corporation, also known as Ukroboronprom, said on June 29.

In an interview with ArmyInform, Herman Smetanin said Russia’s “huge resources and overwhelming industry” meant Kyiv needed to take a “more flexible and imaginative” approach to weapons production.

Ukraine is using long-range drones to penetrate deep into Russian territory, attacking military infrastructure such as airfields and logistics centers, as well as oil refineries and depots. The attacks on oil infrastructure are intended to disrupt fuel supplies to the Russian military and reduce Moscow’s export revenues, which are crucial for financing the war.

Experimental Ukrainian drones have attacked targets in Russia as far as the Republic of Tatarstan, about 1,200 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Smetanin said that with the help of “private individuals,” the Ukrainian defense industry is now able to “scale up production” of long-range drones.

On June 30, Moscow’s Defense Ministry claimed to have destroyed 36 Ukrainian drones overnight that had attacked several regions in southwestern Russia.

A Telegram post said 15 drones were shot down over Kursk Oblast, nine over Lipetsk Oblast, four over Voronezh Oblast, four over Bryansk Oblast, two over Oryol Oblast and another two over Belgorod Oblast.

The Ministry of Defense did not provide any information about the damage or casualties.

Ukrainian authorities have not commented. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

Russian authorities regularly falsely claim to have thwarted Ukrainian drone and missile attacks.

Kremlin claims US drones triggered “provocations” over the Black Sea, prepares possible response

The Russian Defense Ministry said US drones were being used for reconnaissance and targeting “high-precision weapons supplied to the Ukrainian armed forces by Western states.”