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Latvia sending 500 more drones to Ukraine

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Latvia sending 500 more drones to Ukraine

Riga has prepared a batch of more than 500 drones to be sent to Ukraine, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said on July 22.

Earlier this month, Riga announced it would send more than 2,500 combat drones of different types to Ukraine in July, worth 4 million euros ($4.3 million).

Spruds shared photos on X showing a number of packed boxes that read "drone coalition." When the drones are expected in Ukraine wasn't mentioned by Spruds.

Latvia and the U.K. are the leaders of the international coalition established to supply Ukraine with drones, which became a crucial capability on Ukrainian battlefields.

The Czech Republic joined the initiative on July 11, bringing the total number of coalition members to 16.

Spruds announced back in May that the Latvian government would invest around 20 million euros ($22 million) in the drone coalition this year, and a similar sum to the development of Latvia's own drone capabilities.

Ukraine is also working to scale up domestic production, aiming to produce at least 1 million drones in 2024. Kyiv employs long-range drones to strike deep into Russian territory, targeting military infrastructure such as airfields and logistics, as well as oil refineries and depots.

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Kateryna Denisova

Politics Reporter

Kateryna Denisova is the reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in Ukrainian politics. Based in Kyiv, she focuses on domestic affairs, parliament, and social issues. Denisova began her career in journalism in 2020 and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. She also studied at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany.

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