Ukrainian Drones Hit 54,000 Russian Targets in December 2024

In December, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck more than 54,000 Russian targets using drones, nearly half of which were hit with kamikaze drones.

This was confirmed by Ukraine’s defense ministry and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Syrskyi shared these results on Facebook after a meeting with commanders from the unmanned systems and electronic warfare units, where they assessed their operations for the month.

The use of drones in warfare has expanded rapidly, and the numbers reflect this increase. Syrskyi noted that Russia has ramped up its use of strike drones, particularly those with fiber-optic control channels. These drones pose a significant threat to military vehicles in motion. However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have adapted by incorporating FPV (First-Person View) drones on fiber-optic networks to counter these threats effectively.

The Commander-in-Chief also highlighted the growing survivability and effectiveness of Ukrainian drones. The UAV regiment led by Major Robert Brovdi is among the leaders in this area. Their operators were instrumental in hitting over 54,000 enemy targets in December. Kamikaze drones accounted for 49% of this total, emphasizing their critical role in Ukraine’s strategy. Units from the 46th Airborne, 57th Motorized Infantry, 28th Mechanized, 35th Marine Corps, and 3rd Assault Brigades demonstrated the highest results, marking their contributions as pivotal.

Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, Commander of the UAV Forces, and representatives from other branches provided updates during the meeting. They discussed high-tech developments in unmanned systems and electronic warfare, including countermeasures against evolving enemy equipment. Special attention was given to enhancing the capabilities of the UAV units in the 155th Mechanized Brigade, and Syrskyi emphasized that he had issued necessary instructions to address operational challenges.

The Ukrainian military is also working on finalizing plans for a dedicated unmanned systems brigade, which will further strengthen their UAV capabilities. The government is pushing forward with domestic drone production, increasing the production of reconnaissance drones, kamikaze drones, maritime drones, and long-range UAVs. Ukraine is seeking foreign investments to bolster its drone manufacturing capabilities under initiatives such as the Danish Initiative.

Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set a goal to produce 30,000 long-range drones within the year. Domestic companies are also aiming to manufacture around 3,000 rockets, further enhancing Ukraine’s defense capacity with homegrown technologies.