Ukraine produced over 30,000 bomber drones in 2024, minister says
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Ukraine produced more than 30,000 bomber drones in 2024, Ukraine's Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin said on Jan. 16, as unmanned systems become an increasingly vital capability in the war with Russia.
The bomber drones were created during Russia's full-scale invasion and operate mainly at night. They can also remotely disperse mines or transport ammunition, food, and medicine to Ukrainian positions.
Due to their ability to strike at night, Russian soldiers reportedly dub these drones "Baba Yaga," after a mythical witch.
"There are already dozens of bomber drones in Ukraine, and more than 30,000 pieces were produced last year," Smetanin said.
These, as well as several other reconnaissance drones, were presented to President Volodymyr Zelensky and the U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the latter's visit to Kyiv on Jan. 16.
According to Smetanin, Kyiv and London also developed a carrier platform for first-person-view (FPV) drones.
Various aerial, naval, and ground drones have been developed and often successfully used for reconnaissance, combat, and other tasks by Ukrainian troops.
Kyiv delivered more than 200,000 domestically-produced drones to front-line units as of the end of 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
