News - Middle East: President Vladimir Putin says Russia is accelerating its drone production to nearly 1.4 million this year, marking a tenfold rise, to bolster the capabilities of its armed forces in their military operations in Ukraine.

Putin spoke at a military-industrial commission meeting on drone development in St Petersburg on Thursday, as Moscow’s “special military operation” in neighboring Ukraine has mainly involved intense artillery and drone strikes along a heavily fortified 1,000-km front, engaging hundreds of thousands of troops.

“In total, about 140,000 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were delivered to the armed forces in 2023,” the Russia president said, adding, “This year, the production of drones is planned to increase significantly. Well, to be more precise, almost 10 times.”

Both Russia and Ukraine have boosted their drone arsenals and increased their domestic production of various types of these aircraft, while drone footage has illustrated the horrors of war, depicting lethal attacks on infantry, artillery, and tanks.

“Whoever reacts faster to these demands on the battlefield wins,” Putin stressed.