Ukrainian Drones Dominated Military Skies in 2024
The Ukrainian military used over 96% of all drones in 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on December 28. This is a significant increase from previous years.
Kyiv has been producing more drones domestically to support its military efforts against Russia. The drone industry “reached unprecedented production volumes” in 2024, according to Umerov. Ukrainian-made drones accounted for 96.2% of all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by the military this year.
The country produced over 1.5 million first-person-view (FPV) drones in 2024. Ukraine also manufactured reconnaissance drones, kamikaze aircraft, copter-bombers, and long-range drones, Umerov said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky set a goal of producing one million drones last year. In April 2024, Kyiv launched the Brave1 government initiative to invest in defense technology innovations. The aim is to produce at least 30,000 long-range drones next year.
Ukraine has been developing advanced drone capabilities, including “missile-drones” and upgraded UAVs with turbojet engines that can act as alternatives to cruise missiles. Kyiv unveiled its Palianytsia and Peklo hybrids in the second half of 2024.
Russian Hacking Attack Disrupts Airport Operations
A pro-Russian hacker group claimed responsibility for a cyber attack on Ukrainian airport websites, forcing them to shut down temporarily. However, no flights were disrupted, according to Italy’s cybersecurity agency.
Russia Declares Ukraine a “Main Source of Extremism”
Russia’s updated anti-extremism strategy names Ukraine among the “main sources of extremism” and enshrines the concept of “Russophobia” for the first time.
Ukraine Wins Energy Victory
The country has won another energy victory, despite Russia’s attempts to destroy its energy system during the war. “Despite Russia’s attempts to destroy our energy system during the war, we have won another victory on the energy front,” Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, said.
Moldova and Ukraine Dispute Over Energy Transit
Russia’s energy giant Gazprom claimed that Moldova’s outstanding debt was the reason for the dispute over energy transit via Ukraine. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that Russian attacks on power plants were the real reason.
US Offers Aid to Ukraine
The US is expected to provide a substantial aid package to Ukraine, including air defense munitions and Stinger missiles, according to U.S. officials.
Russia’s Military Losses Mounting
Russia claimed that an intercepted Ukrainian drone damaged contact network of a railway in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast overnight on December 28. The incident is part of the growing number of Russian military losses, with over 785,000 troops lost since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022.
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