The number of external drone crews in the Armed Forces of Ukraine has increased sevenfold in 2024.
This was reported by Ukraine's Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, following a meeting with representatives of the Armed Forces, the State Special Communications Service, and the Ministry of Defense.
"Thanks to systematic efforts, the number of UAV crews in the military has increased sevenfold over the year, and we can see how rapidly the role of drones is growing in modern warfare," said the minister.
During the meeting, data on each military unit was analyzed, including the number of drones already in use, those in storage, or those that have been lost. Based on this data, the Ministry of Defense identifies the needs of units and coordinates with the State Special Communications Service, which is responsible for contracting and supplying drones to the military.
In 2024, a significant number of drones—bombers, reconnaissance drones, FPV, and other types—have already been delivered to military units.
The meeting also discussed plans for December and the first quarter of 2025, including the supply of "night" drones and new DeepStrike drones capable of hitting targets deep in the enemy's rear.
It was reported that nearly 30,000 such drones have already been contracted.
