Ukraine versus Russia in drone arms race — expert interview
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While it will be a tall order, Ukraine has a decent chance to withstand the developing arms race with Russia when it comes to producing and using combat UAVs, Ukrainian volunteer and politician Serhiy Prytula said in an interview with NV Radio on Aug. 29.
"The task is quite tough, but not impossible," said Prytula.
He added that his foundation is currently exploring procuring new types of kamikaze UAVs of Ukrainian manufacture, capable of covering distances over 200 kilometers and carrying warheads powerful enough to strike important targets in Russia-occupied territories.
“Last year, when we were fundraising for our ‘payback’ campaign, we contracted 142 kamikaze UAVs, which were all manufactured in Ukraine,” he said.
“Therefore, we are now paying attention to three [domestic] manufacturers. Interesting designs. And I think we will soon start fundraising for them as well. And I hope we can purchase a lot.”
Prytula also remarked that some companies in Ukraine have begun manufacturing individual components for FPV (first-person view) drones, though Ukraine is not yet capable of manufacturing them entirely on its own.
According to The Guardian, since the beginning of 2023, Ukraine has conducted about 190 drone strikes in Russian territory and occupied Crimea.
Read also: Russian missiles and drones launched at Ukraine, biggest attack on Kyiv since spring
On Aug. 30, new satellite images surfaced showing barges near the Crimean Bridge, presumably intended to protect against Ukrainian naval drones.
Early in the morning on the same day, Russian official media reported that at least four Il-76 military airlifters were damaged in an apparent drone strike on an airfield in Russia’s Pskov Oblast.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
