Ukraine has announced that it is producing the same number of combat drones for deep strikes like Russia, saying it has achieved parity in this key type of weapon, reports "Reuters".
Unable to deal with Russia's vast arsenal of cruise and ballistic missiles, Kiev has focused on developing and producing long-range drones to counter Russia's ongoing bombing of Ukraine during the 26-month invasion.
"In 2024, Ukraine will catch up with Russia in the production of unmanned kamikaze aircraft similar to Shahed-131 and Shahed-136," Herman Smetanin, head of Ukrainian state-owned arms manufacturer ArmyInform, told the media.
The Shahed drones, which Kiev says were originally supplied by Iran before some production was located in Russia's Tatarstan region, have become a staple of Russian airstrikes since they were first used against Ukraine in the fall of 2022 Mr.
Smetanin said his comment about production numbers also applies to other types of combat drones, but did not reveal more.
Ukraine has carried out dozens of drone attacks this year against oil refineries deep inside Russian territory, as well as military installations and the Black Sea Fleet on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.
One strike by a Ukrainian drone targeted the plant in Tatarstan, according to a military source in Kiev. Russia said the attack hit a dormitory at an industrial site in the Volga region.
Ukrainian military intelligence claims that Russia is capable of producing up to 350 Shahed drones per month. Russia does not disclose production data and considers such things a secret.