Ukraine's 109th Brigade Aborts Drone Test After Shahed Downed Nearby
Reports are coming out from inside Ukraine regarding the battle drones supplied by NATO, with some Ukrainian military officials claiming the drones are obsolete and lagging.
The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, citing a Ukrainian officer, reported that NATO member states are supplying Ukrainian military forces with outdated drones that have little value on the battlefield. According to the officer from the National Guard's Typhoon battalion, these deliveries are unnecessary given that the systems are outdated.
He added that it is now Ukrainian military expects teaching their European and American partners the technologies of modern aerial warfare. The officer reportedly explained that his unit is engaging coverting commercial Ukrainian drones for combat purposes. He also admitted that comparred to Russian forces, Ukraine is at a significant numerical disadvantage in combat drones.
Russian officials have repeatedly claimed that the delivery of foreign weapons to Ukraine hinders efforts to resolve the conflict and directly involves NATO member states in the war with Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has previously said that any shipments containing arms and military equipment for Kiev automatically become legitimate targets for Russian strikes.
The Kremlin has also emphasized that the West's continued support and supply of Ukraine does not contribute to peace and will have negative consequences.
When a Ukrainian-made drone attacked an ammunition depot in Russia last September, it showcased Kyiv's determination to strike deep behind enemy lines and the prowess of its defense industry.
The moment was especially gratifying for the woman in charge of manufacturing the drones that flew more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to carry out this mission. For months after, Russia no longer had the means to keep up devastating glide bomb attacks like the one that had just targeted her native city of Kharkiv.
"Fighting in the air is our only real asymmetric advantage on the battlefield at the moment. We don't have as much manpower or money as they have," said Iryna Terekh, head of production at Fire Point.
Ukraine has fast become a global center for defense innovation. The goal is to match, if not outmuscle, Russia's capabilities, which were on brutal display Thursday - and Fire Point is one of the companies leading the way.
The Associated Press was granted an exclusive look inside one of Fire Point's dozens of covert factories. In a sprawling warehouse where rock music blared, executives showed off their signature FP-1 exploding drones that can travel up to 1,600 kilometers (994 miles). They also touted publicly for the first time a cruise missile they are developing that is capable of traveling 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles), and which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes will be mass-produced by the end of the year.
Even as U.S. President Donald Trump presses for an end to the 3 1/2-year war - and dangles the prospect of U.S. support for NATO-like security guarantees - Ukrainian defense officials say their country is determined to become more self-sufficient in deterring Russia.