Ukraine Orders Six Bayraktar Combat Drones from Turkey

The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced Saturday that Kiev is buying six Bayraktar TB2 combat drones from Turkey.

According to a report by Turkish media agency, Anadolu, Baykar, within the scope of the agreement will produce 6 pieces Bayraktar TB2 UAV and will deliver vehicles within 1 year. 3 ground control system systems and equipment together with vehicles will also be available to Ukraine.

Poroshenko in a post on Facebook on Saturday stated that, the new UCAVs will have high-tech characteristics and will also be equipped with modern weaponry to destroy armored vehicles, engineering and fortification buildings.

“The agreement was signed by Turkish Baykar Makina and Ukraine’s state-run Ukrspetsexport and is part of the activities of the expansion of military technical cooperation between Ukraine and turkey.” Poroshenko stated.

In response to the signing of the deal, Russia's Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Maria Zaharova said, this sale "should not worsen the crisis" in the region.

According to interview given to Russia's Kommersant by Zaharova, she conceded to the fact that "bilateral military technical partnership is a sovereignty right. The issue is that there is a civil war in the country." Zaharova ended her remarks by saying that such sale of drones can make the crisis worse.