Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced at a June 26 press briefing that Ukrainian manufacturers have increased their industrial capacity to produce four million drones annually. This production surge underscores Ukraine’s strategic effort to bolster self-sufficiency in military supplies amid heightened uncertainty regarding future U.S. support and the reduction of dependence on European allies. The statement comes at a crucial time as Ukraine seeks to solidify its domestic arms production capabilities.
According to Umerov, the Ukrainian army has already received up to 1.5 million drones as of the end of June, with the government allocating Hr 2.5 billion ($60 million) per month to directly fund procurement teams. However, Umerov acknowledged that not all brigades are utilizing the funds effectively due to a lack of procurement specialists. To address this issue, the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) launched the DOT Chain Defense marketplace, streamlining the drone procurement process for Ukrainian soldiers.
“The teams see a ‘marketplace’ of drones: each team orders what it needs, and the healthcare organization pays for it. This way we significantly reduce all the bureaucracy, and the teams get what they need ten times faster,” Umerov explained. This initiative aims to expedite the acquisition of necessary equipment by allowing frontline units to procure drones efficiently and directly, bypassing lengthy bureaucratic procedures.
Russian drone strikes across Ukraine have been breaking records in recent weeks, with nearly 500 drones and missiles launched overnight. This surge in attacks has intensified Ukraine’s focus on developing and deploying advanced unmanned systems. As of April 2025, more than 95% of the drones used by Ukrainian forces on the front line are domestically produced, highlighting the effectiveness of the country’s drone production capabilities. Both Ukraine and Russia have increasingly relied on drone warfare, employing aerial, naval, and ground-based drones for reconnaissance and combat operations, making technological innovation a critical component of the ongoing conflict.