Ukraine has significantly increased its use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) this year. In 2026 alone, UGVs have carried out more than 100,000 evacuation and logistics missions. They are also increasingly being used for strike operations.

This time, I’ve highlighted the UGV section of my newsletter, which also features six other sections covering the latest developments in drone warfare.

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Ground Drones (UGVs)

• During Operation Vivaldi, a Ukrainian UGV equipped with a machine gun positioned itself between two tree lines occupied by Russian troops. The UGV opened fire on one Russian position and then the other. Believing they were being attacked by Ukrainian forces from opposite directions, the Russian soldiers began firing at each other.

• A Ukrainian defence startup has developed an amphibious UGV, Toni. It is designed for logistics, evacuation, and special missions on both land and water. Toni can carry payloads of up to 380 kg on land and 280 kg on water. It reaches a maximum speed of 13 km/h on land and 2–4 km/h on water. It has an operational range of up to 50 km on land and 5 km on water at 50% battery charge. The development team is working to increase both speed and range.

• Ukrainian company ARMOLAB tested its Robonoshi UGV with a 170 kg load, successfully transporting a man weighing 170 kg. Robonoshi is designed for medical evacuation, replacing the manual carrying of wounded personnel, and can also support missions.

• The Tencore Ecosystem, a system of UGVs and related technologies, has been unveiled in Ukraine. It consists of four classes of robotic platforms and an AI-powered autonomous navigation module. The Tencore Ecosystem includes the tracked TerMIT UGV, equipped with modules for logistics, medical evacuation, mine-laying, and combat missions. It also features the TOR 4×4 wheeled UGV with armoured wheels, the MAT1LDA 8×8 amphibious unmanned platform capable of crossing water obstacles, and the TRAX UTILITY firefighting and rescue robot.

• In Ukraine, a heavy-lift drone transported a UGV-kamikaze behind Russian positions. The UGV was able to cross a route littered with mines and unexploded ordnance and reach a shelter occupied by Russian troops.

  The mission was successful: the shelter was destroyed along with the Russian personnel inside.

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Aerial Drones

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In 2026, Ukraine has been approving two to three new UAV models every day. Not all of them are innovative technologies, but the size and variety of the market speak for themselves. Russia, meanwhile, has pursued a different strategy: selecting the most effective solutions and scaling up their production.

The latest edition of Ukraine Drone Brief is out, packed with recent drone-related developments in Ukraine and Russia. It is available to VIP subscribers.

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Aerial Drones

• President Zelenskyy said Ukraine would intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow’s renewed air campaign aimed at forcing residents to flee Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

• Russia updated its jet-powered Geran-4. The new version features an additional autonomous navigation system, a magnetometer to increase the accuracy of the inertial system, and a new warhead designed to destroy specific infrastructure elements. The Chinese Telefly turbojet engine has been replaced by a Russian equivalent produced in Alabuga.

• Russia has begun deploying a new variant of the Geran-5 attack drone, designated Geran-5 K5. It features a redesigned fuselage and a DSMAC electro-optical navigation system that uses reference images of terrain, similar to the Kh-101 cruise missile.

• SIM cards from Polish mobile operators were found in some Russian Gerbera drones that violated Polish airspace in September 2025. Mobile connectivity is a valid way to control drones remotely.

• Unusual whisker-like protrusions have been spotted on Russian Geran drones. Ukrainian expert Serhii FLASH suggested they function as mechanical impact fuzes. Volunteer Sternenko similarly suggested they are designed to trigger the warhead upon contact with small targets, such as power lines.

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Russia’s non-stop drone and missile attacks against Ukraine’s civilian population continue, now targeting bridges and energy infrastructure. Russia is not preparing to stop its war against Ukraine; instead, it plans to spend $12 billion next year solely on the production of jet-powered drones and loitering munitions.

This edition of the Ukraine Drone Brief is particularly rich in developments. As always, one edition each month is free for all subscribers and followers. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next editions.

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Aerial Drones

• For the first time, Russia used a specialized cumulative-cutting warhead, known as KRSN, on a jet-powered UAV. The warhead was reportedly designed specifically to damage high-voltage transmission towers and steel bridge structures. The KRSN consists of a 40 kg main warhead and four additional effect modules. Russia may be planning attacks against critical high-voltage power transmission lines.

  In the first two days of October, Russia has targeted two bridges over the Dnipro River in Kyiv.

• According to Ukraine, Russian forces are increasing the resolution of cameras on their drones and using higher-quality materials in their construction. This lets them get a more detailed view of the situation on the ground and use the UAV for different missions. A single platform could serve multiple roles: reconnaissance, strike, and communications relay.

• Long-range weapons remain the leading cause of civilian casualties in Ukraine, accounting for 47% of the total (194 killed; 1,077 injured). Most casualties from these weapons occurred far from the frontline in urban centres. Short-range drones were the main cause of civilian casualties near the frontline (91 killed; 727 injured), accounting for 30% of all civilian casualties in August.

• Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi underscored the importance of fuel in sustaining drone and counter-drone operations, as well as the strategic vulnerabilities associated with fuel dependence. The operation’s success was facilitated by Ukraine’s intermediate-range drone strike campaign targeting Russian fuel supplies, which reduced the availability of diesel needed to power generators supporting Russian electronic warfare systems. At the same time, Ukrainian electronic warfare systems reportedly neutralized around 20,000 Russian drones.

• President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has approved long-range operations for October.

• Ukrainian Vyriy Industries unveiled its new Slavic reconnaissance drone, pitching the aircraft as an alternative to Chinese commercial drones (DJI Mavic) amid domestic efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese technology.

• Russia is promoting an export version of the Garpiya-A1 strike UAV, designated Garpiya-A1E, to international customers. The drone reportedly has a range of up to 1,000 km. The export variant is expected to be showcased to potential foreign buyers at defence exhibitions in Vietnam and China.

Ground Drones (UGVs)

• Ukraine has conducted its first logistics mission using an amphibious UGV. The platform covered more than 40 km during the mission. On land, it retained the mobility of a conventional UGV; upon reaching water, it switched to amphibious mode within seconds and continued moving. The system delivered ammunition and supplies to frontline positions. Water obstacles remain a major challenge for frontline logistics.

  Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence and Brave1 are continuing to develop amphibious UGV capabilities and support the scaling of such solutions.

• Demand from foreign businesses for Ukrainian UGVs has grown significantly over the past year, although a fully developed market has yet to emerge. The strongest interest has come from Germany, France, Norway, and Northern European countries more broadly.

• The Italian Army tested the Ukrainian Droid TW 7.62 and Droid TW 12.7 combat UGVs developed by DevDroid. Ukrainian UGVs operated alongside the Italian ULISSE platform developed by ABET HTS. They supported infantry assaults on enemy positions, evacuated wounded personnel, and facilitated further advances. The exercise also included coordination with artillery and the simultaneous employment of multiple unmanned platforms within a single tactical scenario.

• Ukrainian Frontline Robotics unveiled the versatile six-wheeled Frodo UGV designed for logistics, strike, and evacuation missions. The robot can carry up to 400 kg in total, including up to 200 kg of payload. Its maximum speed is 40 km/h, with an operational range of up to 150 km.

Naval Drones

• Ukrainian-British UFORCE participated in NATO’s international REPMUS 26 exercise in Portugal. This year, UFORCE significantly increased its participation, deploying 11 unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and 8 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

AI

• “Drones are the plague of the third millennium,” says Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.

  In his view, AI is becoming a kind of digital panopticon capable of influencing nearly every aspect of modern life. Combined with the rapid development of unmanned systems, AI could give humanity access to increasingly difficult-to-control weapons—not only as instruments of warfare, but also as tools that can shape the future of society. For now, AI-enabled drone technologies are primarily being developed in support of military objectives. What comes next is much harder to predict.

  His broader concern is that humanity may gradually be losing control over the technologies it is creating.

• British-Ukrainian Occam Industries has raised €3.8 million to develop autonomous drone-control software.

• Ukraine is developing SPECTR, an AI-powered system for analyzing battlefield data and supporting operational planning. The system is being developed by the A1 Artificial Intelligence Center under Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence. Several combat units are already testing it.

C-UAS

• Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is currently neutralizing around 70% of drones overall, while the interception rate for jet-powered drones stands at 57%.

• Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would have 400 interceptors for jet-powered drones in October. However, their effectiveness remains inconsistent: on some days, it reaches around 70%, while on others it can fall to 30%. Currently, F-16 fighter jets destroy about 50–60% of jet-powered drones.

• The Ukrainian P1-SUN JetKiller interceptor drone, produced by SkyFall, destroyed a Russian Geran-5 small cruise missile for the second time.

Components and Software

• In 2026, the estimated initial budget for building an FPV drone ranges from approximately USD 445 for a basic setup to around USD 1,560 for a more complete setup with a digital system. The most expensive components are typically the set of four motors, the electronic speed controller (ESC), the flight controller, and the video transmission system (VTX/Air Unit).

Drones and Humans

• The Drone Warfare Applications Course (DWAC) at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre has received NATO Selected status.

  The program was developed by Ukrainian officer-instructors from the Partnership for Peace Training Centre, drawing on the combat experience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2026, the course was piloted with the participation of officers from more than ten countries.

• Beginning on September 1, 2026, Russia introduced a unified basic course on unmanned transport systems across its network of transport universities, making drone-related instruction mandatory for students at 19 universities and their affiliated campuses.

  Ukraine’s military leadership has tracked the growth of Russia’s Unmanned Systems Forces, formally established in mid-November 2025, from roughly 80,000 personnel in January 2026 to an estimated 114,000 by early May. Moscow’s own targets call for 165,000 by the end of 2026 and 210,000 across 277 units by 2030.

• Ukrainian soldiers are developing a condition described as “drone phobia,” linked to the constant threat and sound of drones on the battlefield. Ukrainian and U.S. researchers are now examining whether the condition is distinct from conventional PTSD and could eventually warrant separate clinical recognition.

• The Guardian reported on Chinese volunteers working in a drone workshop within a Ukrainian military unit focused on reconnaissance.

  One volunteer was primarily responsible for repairing drones. In a single week, he reportedly repaired around 10 Mavic drones and 15 first-person-view (FPV) drones.

Cooperation Deals

• Lithuania is testing SkyFortress, a Ukrainian-developed airspace monitoring system designed to detect low-flying drones and other threats by analysing acoustic and radio signals. It uses AI to detect and track low-flying drones and cruise missiles based on acoustic or electromagnetic signatures.

• The Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) has purchased nine Dropla 4×4 UGVs by Danish-Ukrainian defense startup Dropla Tech to train conscript operators at the Danish Defence Drone Center.

• Japanese corporation Terra Drone Corporation, through its European structure Terra Defense Europe, has acquired a 50% stake in Ukrainian company Kurin Technologies. The acquisition was worth approximately $3.5 million. Kurin Technologies is a manufacturer of FPV multirotor interceptors designed to counter Russian UAVs in the combat zone.

• Ukrainian TAF Industries and Luxembourg-based LUXUAV have signed an MoU to jointly develop new unmanned solutions and establish industrial-scale production in the Benelux countries.

Related Global Developments

• Hero drones developed by Israel’s UVision will be manufactured in the United States for the U.S. military and equipped with advanced autonomy technologies from Estonia’s Lendurai, which also operates in Ukraine. The Estonian company maintains a presence in Ukraine, where it can test and validate its technologies, including its Neocortex autonomy system. The system provides unmanned platforms with navigation capabilities, as well as target detection, acquisition, tracking, and engagement in environments affected by electronic warfare and jamming.

• The Defense Ministry plans to introduce a new contract system to support startups in developing UAVs and other products. The ministry will examine participating companies at each stage, such as development planning and demonstration, making payments for necessary expenses at each step.

Work with Ukraine

• Ukrainian company RVN CLAW is developing a system for intercepting analog signals from drones. It is a passive system operating in the 1080–8260 MHz frequency range. The company is currently exploring international cooperation in several areas, including integration with C-UAS and C2 systems, GEOINT and visual geolocation, technology and manufacturing partnerships, and strategic investment to scale production and support further product development. Contact them here.

Other Updates

• Russia has offered a US$20 million reward through post-Soviet criminal networks for information that could help locate Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces.

• Ukrainian units have ordered more than 590,000 drones through Brave1 Market in the first nine months of 2026.

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Read other relevant reports:

• Drones for Humanitarian Missions: Delivery to Occupied Oleshky;

• Autonomous Weapons: The Ukrainian Perspective;

• Vivaldi: Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Operation;

• Russia’s “Dark Plant” for Automated Containerized FPV Drone Production.

Ukraine has few equals in defence innovation, but now it remains vulnerable in one particular area: countering jet-powered threats, some of which no longer resemble conventional drones.

This weekly digest covers more than 30 developments in drone and counter-drone technologies in Ukraine and Russia.

Check out earlier free editions: August 22-28; July 25-31; July 11-17.

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Naval Drones

• According to the Ukrainian Navy, none of the maritime drones that Russia has deployed this season reached their intended targets; all were destroyed at sea. Russia, in turn, is using a range of measures to counter Ukrainian maritime drones, such as boom barriers, aviation, and observation posts.

  Russia has already lost about 30% of its Black Sea Fleet, while its capacity to employ Kalibr cruise missiles has fallen by roughly half.

• Ukrainian-British UFORCE has begun recruiting Formula 1 engineers on a large scale to help develop its drone systems. They have exactly the expertise needed: strong experience with composites and carbon fiber used in race cars, deep knowledge of sensors, and the ability to optimize both electric and conventional engines. Another advantage of Formula 1 engineers is their ability to reduce structural weight without compromising reliability.

  UFORCE systems, including the MAGURA maritime drone, have carried out more than 150,000 combat missions.

Aerial Drones

• On September 25, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 162 strike drones of various types, including 76 jet-powered UAVs. Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 127 targets.

Read more

Ukraine Drone Brief is turning into a global brief, as hybrid attacks involving drones have become a new reality across European countries, while even a Russian jet-powered UAV has crashed in a neighboring state.

Ukraine Drone Brief covers more than 30 weekly developments in drone warfare.

VIP subscribers can access the full newsletter. Sometimes I publish free editions.

Also, check out my long-form reports:

• Drone warfare in Ukraine: medium-range UAVs and jet-powered threats;

• Arms Trends in Ukraine: 07 September - 13 September, 2026.

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Aerial Drones

• Ukraine has established production of more than 2,000 Bars jet-powered drones per month. They are being used in special operations.

• Russia is experimenting with deploying FPV drones from Shahed-type attack UAVs, although there is currently no evidence of this tactic being used on a large scale.

• Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) has published data on the foreign-made equipment used in the production of Geran drones at Alabuga. The equipment includes a Chinese SMTCL VMC 1000Q vertical machining centre, a Japanese JUKI RS-1R automated component-placement machine, and a German Festo mechatronics production line equipped with a Mitsubishi Melfa industrial robot from Japan.

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This week has been particularly productive for new cooperation deals. Ukraine reached a major agreement with Canada; new drone partnerships were announced, and Ukraine will help Germany better protect its critical infrastructure from Russian drones.

Read about these and other developments in my Ukraine Drone Brief, which features over 30 weekly updates.

Also, check out my recent open-access article in the Ukrainian outlet Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, where I discuss opportunities for Ukraine–Colombia cooperation on drones. I’m always excited about exploring new partnerships for the Ukrainian defence industry.

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Aerial Drones

• On September 9, Ukraine’s deep strike units carried out their longest-range strike on Russian territory, covering approximately 3,200 km (almost 2,000 miles). Ukrainian drone manufacturer Fire Point confirmed that its FP-1 drones were used in the operation.

• Ukraine’s Bars jet-powered drone has been upgraded to a range of up to 1,000 km, a warhead weighing up to 60 kg, and a speed of more than 700 km/h. The upgraded version also reportedly features online control during the final stage of flight.

• Over the first eight months of 2026, Ukraine’s MoD approved over 1,500 types of equipment for supply to the Defence Forces. Nearly 91% were domestically produced in Ukraine. The list includes: 565 Ukrainian UAVs; 256 types of munitions; 139 communications systems; 86 UGVs; 64 electronic warfare/electronic intelligence systems; 52 vehicles; 48 types of armoured vehicles and specialized armoured vehicles; 37 types of optical equipment.

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Russian Shahed/Geran drones with online control are already reaching some of Ukraine’s most heavily defended facilities, including the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine. China remains a key enabler of these attacks, as both the MESH modems used for online control and the jet engines powering some of these drones are of Chinese origin.

While I usually start my newsletter with the UAV section, this time I decided to begin with listing several opportunities to work with promising Ukrainian companies.

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This newsletter is available in full to VIP subscribers. Sometimes I publish free editions, so you can explore them first and decide whether this type of reporting is useful to you on a regular basis.

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Work with Ukraine

• Ukrainian-made AI platform Mantis Analytics combines AI-assisted OSINT collection with regional analysts’ and local-source knowledge to produce assessments of contested information environments. It has applied its approach in environments ranging from Ukraine and the Baltic states to Haiti, Syria, and Southeast Asia. The company is open to international research collaborations and strategic partnerships focused on advancing intelligence capabilities.

• AIDronesUA is a Ukrainian defence-tech company developing UGVs for high-risk missions. Its flagship platform, MAUL, is engineered for casualty evacuation, logistics, and frontline support. The company is open to investment, joint ventures and technology integration partnerships, including AI and other systems that can strengthen the platform’s capabilities. It is particularly interested in cooperation within the Build with Ukraine framework, with a focus on the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain.

• Ukraine provides international researchers and manufacturers access to Russian trophy equipment and its analysis. More than 430 companies have already applied to Ukraine’s TrophyLab database. The portal provides users with data collected by the GUR, SBU, and specialized institutions to support the development of countermeasures.

Aerial Drones

• On September 4, a jet-powered Shahed drone directly targeted a building of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). According to the SBU, the drone was deliberately directed at the office of the head of SBU. He was not injured. The drone was controlled and guided online through a MESH radio relay with internet access, which a Russian agent activated nearby (up to 5 km distance) for a short period during the attack.

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Not only drones, but also counter-drone systems are evolving rapidly in Ukraine and Russia — and NATO countries should take note.

This newsletter covers more than 20 weekly developments in drone warfare, with the majority focused on counter-UxS capabilities.

Since it’s the week of Ukraine’s Independence Day, I’m celebrating it with my audience by making much of my content freely available, including this edition of Ukraine Drone Brief.

Read earlier reports:

• Free full edition of Arms Trends in Ukraine: 17 August - 23 August, 2026;

• Drone Warfare in Ukraine newsletter with a free section: Korean Company Develops Battery Packs for Ukrainian Interceptor Drones.

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Aerial Drones

• President Zelensky said Ukraine should increase the number of long-range drones used to strike targets in Russia from the current level of more than 300 to 1,000 per day.

• Russian forces attacked Ukraine with seven S8000 Banderol missile drones and 96 strike UAVs (70% of them were jet-powered) on 28 August. Most of them were targeting Kyiv.

• Russia has shifted to a new air terror tactic in recent days – hitting Kyiv and other cities in small drone waves every 30–60 minutes around the clock. On August 27, Kyiv saw 13 air raid alerts totaling 14 hours.

• On August 28, a Russian jet-powered Shahed covered a record distance of around 960 km before being shot down by Ukrainian air defenses.

• Russian attacks have destroyed around 90% of modern storage facilities for goods in Ukraine.

Ground Drones (UGVs)

• Ukrainian Defence Forces have begun combat testing UGVs armed with two Kalashnikov rifles. The project received grant funding and moved from concept to prototype in under six months. Its use of standard Kalashnikov rifles is intended to reduce costs and simplify scaling, while the four-wheel chassis, airless tires, and protected body are designed for operation in difficult terrain.

• Ukrainian Tencore is developing a flamethrower module for its TerMIT 2.0 UGV. The new combat module integrates eight RPV-16 rocket-propelled infantry flamethrowers, originally designed as portable infantry weapons, allowing the UGV to engage enemy personnel while operators remain at a safer distance.

Naval Drones

• Ukrainian Uforce has unveiled the new MV11 maritime drone. It is described as the largest platform in the Magura family and one of Europe’s largest USVs. Designed for open-sea operations, the MV11 can transport and launch other drones far from shore and is intended for reconnaissance, surveillance, maritime support missions, and carrying fuel or equipment for other unmanned systems.

AI

• A Russian drone that attacked Zaporizhzhia on July 6 was reportedly equipped with an experimental AI system capable of autonomously identifying a target for attack. Three people were killed in the strike. Analysis of debris found that the drones had onboard minicomputers, sold commercially by Nvidia, that made their targeting decisions. Ukrainian expert said that the drone was a preprogrammed tool trained in virtual reality to track specific objects, such as a gas station.

  A Ukrainian company told me that each of the technologies mentioned, including target identification and model training, has already been under development for some time.

  However, operator-controlled missions still account for the overwhelming majority of drone operations, with the human operator remaining the primary decision-maker.

• Russian state media claims that Russian forces are attacking Ukrainian units with AI-enabled drones that allegedly recognize Ukrainian military uniforms and vehicle license plates.

C-UAS

• Russia has equipped some Shahed/Geran drones with an EW system designed to disrupt interceptor drones. When a Ukrainian interceptor approaches, the Shahed’s EW receiver detects the interceptor’s video-transmission frequency and activates a jammer on the same frequency. The Shahed’s jammer reportedly transmits at roughly five times the interceptor’s power, overwhelming the video link and preventing the pilot on the ground from seeing the drone’s feed.

• Ukraine works on the “Mayachnia” project to support drone navigation and precise positioning in the Black Sea when satellite communications are unavailable. Deployment of an autonomous radio-beacon network based on the Skyline platform began late last year. The beacons operate independently, are equipped with backup power sources, and are integrated into a centralized network.

• Ukrainian forces are testing the Spys interceptor drone, developed by WIY Drones to counter jet-powered UAVs. An initial batch of 50 drones has been delivered to military units for combat testing. The interceptor has a stated operational speed of up to 450 km/h, while testing recorded a maximum speed of 600 km/h.

• Ukrainian Wild Hornets introduced an upgraded Hornet Vision VTX Pro video-transmission module for its interceptor drones. The new version more than doubles output power to 4 W, increasing video-link and control range by up to 50% under favorable conditions. It also improves the interception effectiveness against low-flying targets by more than 20% and provides greater resistance to electronic warfare and radio-frequency interference.

• Russia has begun mass production of the domestic electronic warfare system “Volna Kupol Garant,” capable of countering the Starlink satellite system.

• Russian state corporation Rostec has launched production of the SOKOL-08 mobile radar, which incorporates machine-learning algorithms. According to Russian sources, the system can track up to 100 targets simultaneously, identify small drones, and automatically filter out false detections.

• A Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter has been integrated with interceptor drones for engaging Russian UAVs. The helicopter can carry up to six interceptors, which are likely controlled either from onboard the Mi-8 or remotely via Starlink.

• Ukrainian BlueBird Tech has launched an upgrade campaign for its Chuika 3.0 drone detectors, adding a fourth frequency band covering 6–8.8 GHz.

• Ukrainian tech startup Zvook is conducting research and development into hydrophones engineered for passive underwater acoustic monitoring.

Cooperation Deals

• Ukraine and Norway have signed a defence cooperation agreement under the Drone Deal format. This is the tenth country establishing a Drone Deal with Ukraine.

• American Palladyne AI and Ukrainian-Estonian NORDA Dynamics, a developer of a drone autonomy ecosystem, announced a collaboration to integrate Palladyne AI’s SwarmOS™ decentralized, collaborative autonomy platform with the Underdog Autonomy Module, NORDA’s autonomous terminal guidance product for next-generation unmanned swarm operations.

• Finnish Patria and Ukrainian General Cherry signed a LoI. Patria plans to initiate drone production in Finland, which would support the development of Europe’s defence capabilities

• Ukraine would receive about 90% of the drones built by Finnish companies under a planned Finland–Ukraine framework agreement. The other 10% would stay in Finland.

• Britain signed a partnership with Ukraine to jointly develop artificial intelligence tools for defence and security, ​giving British researchers access to a Ukrainian battlefield data platform ‌used to train military AI systems.

Relevant Global Developments

• Chinese drone manufacturers are focusing on low-cost interceptor drones produced using 3D printing and equipped with artificial intelligence. The technology is also being actively exported abroad, including to Russia.

• An explosive drone found near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig airport in early August bore the hallmarks of devices typically employed by Russia's Military Intelligence Directorate, the GRU, a U.S. intelligence source told.

• Slovak police thwarted a planned arson attack on the Ukrainian Skyeton production facility in the eastern part of the country, where unmanned systems are manufactured.

• Japan’s defense procurement agency has signed a mass-production agreement for interceptor drones, selecting the Terra B1, a rocket-launched system developed by domestic industrial giant Terra Drone. The Terra B1 is the Japan-made counterpart to the Terra A1, which was fielded on Ukrainian battlefields earlier this year.

• The UAE has built massive protective cages around fuel tanks at Dubai airport after one of those tanks was struck by an Iranian drone early in the war.

Work with Ukraine

• The Ukrainian agency Calibrated organizes Defence Tech Comms Bootcamps, a training programme designed for Ukrainian defence-tech professionals. The programme provides insights into market opportunities and potential areas of cooperation across different regions and countries. The autumn edition will focus on opportunities in Asia. Calibrated is currently open to sponsorship partnerships. Contact them here.

The Ukraine Drone Brief is usually available exclusively to VIP subscribers, while all other newsletters are available to regular paid subscribers.

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Read earlier relevant reports:

• Ukraine’s Pursuit of Drone Autonomy: NORDA Dynamics;

• The Fourth Law: Autonomy for Every Drone;

• What Is Russia’s Banderol Missile/Drone?

• Ukraine’s First Autonomous Interceptor Drones;

• Drones Against Civilians: How Russia Uses UAVs to Kill and Terrorize.

Ukraine is launching larger drone attacks, with more than 600 drones sent toward Moscow, while Russian drones are now regularly reaching NATO territory by air and sea. Russia’s expansion of drone launch sites suggests that this trend is likely to continue.

The new Ukraine Drone Brief is ready for your attention and is available to VIP subscribers. Here is the most recent free edition of the digest.

If you’re looking for long-form or free content, check out my Topic Navigator, which includes lists of previous reports. I’ve recently updated the Deep Strike and Mid-Range Strike Capabilities sections.

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Aerial Drones

• Ukraine reportedly developed a plan, codenamed “M&Ms,” to launch up to 1,000 autonomous, low-cost drones toward Moscow in a single night. The operation, developed under former Defense Minister Fedorov, was intended to overwhelm Russian air defenses and disrupt air traffic at Moscow’s airports. According to The Atlantic, Zelensky expressed reservations about such a mission, warning that it could be seen as “piracy”. Another official in the President’s Office denied that there was any such plan.

• Russia is switching to jet engines not only for Shahed-type drones but also for lower-cost BM-35 mid-range strike drones. They can reach speeds of over 350 km/h, have a range exceeding 200 km, and carry a 10 kg warhead.

• Russian jet-powered Geran-3 can fly from the Belarusian border to Kyiv in approximately 35 minutes — around four times faster than the previous version. Jet-powered Geran drones currently account for 20-30% of all such drones.

Ground Drones (UGVs)

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More countries are learning from Ukraine’s defence innovations: Canada wants to acquire long-range drones, the United States is seeking naval systems, and even Russia is creating its own drone marketplace - similar to Ukraine’s Brave1.

The new edition of the weekly Ukraine Drone Brief is ready for your attention. It is available exclusively to VIP subscribers—please consider supporting me by subscribing. You can also check out the free edition of this newsletter.

Also, here are my earlier reports from this week:

• Newtype Industries: The First Korean Defence Startup Testing in Ukraine;

• Ukraine’s Interceptors Against Jet-Powered Shaheds: Key Challenges.

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Aerial Drones

• Russian forces have accumulated around 6,200 Geran drones of various types as of August - Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) reported. During periods when Russian forces are replenishing their stockpiles, they launch 150–200 drones per attack, occasionally reaching 300.

• According to HUR, Russia produces around 2,800 Geran-2 attack drones per month.

• In some attacks, Russian jet-powered UAVs account for up to two-thirds of the total drones deployed. The situation is changing rapidly: in July, Russia deployed five times as many jet-powered UAVs as in June.

• In July, Ukraine’s Defence Forces carried out an average of more than 250 medium-range strike drone missions per day. Over the month, they conducted around 7,800 strikes with drones of this class, a 126% increase compared with June.

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Ukraine’s drone strikes are becoming larger in scale, the systems are growing more sophisticated, and targets are being selected more carefully. Russia retaliates with mass strikes involving hundreds of missiles, against which Ukraine still lacks sufficient means of protection.

This is the new edition of my Ukraine Drone Brief — a weekly roundup of drone-related developments in Ukraine and Russia. Check it out here to see what the brief looks like. It’s available for VIP subscribers.

For long-form reporting, check my recent newsletters:

• Ukraine’s Long-Range Strike Tactics Become More Precise;

• Drone warfare in Ukraine: battlefield testing and emerging UAV trends.

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Aerial Drones

• Ukraine has used long-range drones to attack roughly 20 Wildberries facilities (Russian Amazon) since mid-July. Wildberries was estimated to have lost roughly 10% of its warehouse space.

• Russians claim that Ukrainian long-range drones now pose one of the greatest threats to Russia’s deep rear. Ukraine now has several strike UAV types, including the An-196 Liutyi, UJ-26 Bober, Fire Point FP-1, Bars RS, Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat, Morok, and Sichen.

  The key factor is Ukraine’s ability to replenish its drone stocks quickly as production capacity expands, allowing the Armed Forces to launch large numbers of drones almost daily.

• According to the Ukrainian DroneBomber OSINT channel, out of around 1,500 Ukrainian drones used to penetrate Moscow-region air defences, only one managed to get through.

• A new generation of multifunctional Russian Gerbera UAVs has begun appearing on the front line. It is larger than the original design and may also be remotely controlled. These UAVs enter the country’s airspace, fly within it for some time, and then return to enemy-controlled territory. They could operate in an electronic intelligence (ELINT) role.

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Ukraine is extending the range of its deep-strike drones, while Russia is seeking to localize motor production for FPV drones. Russia has already tried to localize fibre-optic cable production—and we all remember how that turned out.

For those who do not remember: the production site was struck by Ukrainian drones and put out of operation for at least a year.

Here is my weekly edition of Ukraine Drone Brief. Check all earlier publications here.

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Aerial Drones

• Ukrainian long-range drone attacks have disabled at least 30% of Russia’s actual oil-refining capacity and 45% of its nominal capacity.

• Ukraine’s Fire Point modernized its long-range drones. The FP-1 can now fly up to 3,400 km while carrying a 60 kg warhead. The FP-2 has a range of up to 700 km and can carry a warhead weighing up to 200 kg.

• The Kyiv production facility of US company Terminal Autonomy was destroyed in a Russian missile strike. Terminal Autonomy makes precision “deep-strike” drones with guidance systems that are resistant to Russian jamming signals.

• According to Russian sources, the battery compartment is the most vulnerable part of the heavy Baba Yaga hexacopter Ukrainian drones. Russians use tracer and armor-piercing incendiary ammunition to bring down such drones.

• Russia’s serially produced Boomerang FPV drones can operate on frequencies up to 7.2 GHz, beyond the coverage of most drone detectors.

• Ukrainian forces observed an unusual configuration of Russia’s multipurpose Gerbera drone towing an FPV drone on a rope or cable. The purpose of the setup remains unclear.

Ground Drones (UGVs)

• Since the start of 2026, UGVs in Ukraine have carried out 66,300 missions, taking on the riskiest logistics and evacuation tasks.

• The Protector by Ukrainian Armor is Ukraine’s largest UGV by payload, weight, and dimensions, with a declared carrying capacity of 1,480 kg. It is also considered relatively survivable, completing around 20 missions on average. One Protector transported nearly 15 tonnes of supplies in a month. A single delivery can provide a unit with essential supplies for a week of combat operations.

Naval Drones

• Russia plans to build a 500-ton unmanned vessel for anti-submarine warfare and expand unmanned-systems units across its navy. Russia’s Northern Fleet has established its first unmanned-systems regiment, comprising two battalions of unmanned surface vessels and one battalion of unmanned underwater vehicles. A second regiment is planned for the Pacific Fleet in 2027.

• The Russian Navy now rarely operates in the Black Sea. Vessels launch Kalibr missiles directly from port because of the threat of Ukrainian naval drone strikes. The Ukrainian military is currently focusing primarily on vessels capable of carrying cruise missiles.

• Navies are unlikely to abandon traditional large warships in the coming years. A new concept of naval warfare is emerging in which uncrewed surface vessels will become an important complement to conventional naval forces.

C-UAS

• Ukraine’s Defence Forces have used STING interceptor drones to destroy more than 9,000 Russian Shahed/Geran and Gerbera drones of various modifications, including jet-powered versions.

  The highest-altitude STING interception occurred at 6,858 metres, when it destroyed a Zala reconnaissance drone worth approximately $200,000.

• Close to Russia’s MoD, Telegram channel Rybar published information about how Qatar is transforming its air-defence system with input from Ukraine. According to it, Qatar has acquired RADA RPS-42 radars, Merops interceptors, Zirka interceptor drones, and STING interceptors.

  Within a year, Ukrainian companies are expected to provide Qatar with more than 20,000 interceptor drones, 100 USVs, 16 radars, and at least 48 trained crews. It is currently unclear how Rybar obtained this information or how credible it is.

• Ukraine’s drone manufacturer General Cherry launched a service allowing businesses to protect their facilities from drone attacks. The offering includes licensed air-defence operations, trained pilots and mobile response teams, counter-drone systems, personnel training, and technical support for businesses seeking to establish their own protection capabilities.

• Ukraine unveiled a new EW system called STRYI, designed to disrupt FPV drones. The manufacturer advertises operation across 300-6000 MHz and claims engagement distances of up to 50 km under favourable conditions.

• Russia developed an experimental floating fire-support platform, the Plot-40, to protect naval bases and ports from naval drones. The Plot-40 is armed with a remotely operated machine-gun module.

  It remains unclear whether a crew will be stationed aboard to operate the weapon or whether the platform will feature advanced AI capabilities for automatic target classification.

• The Russian Navy corvette Stoikiy, which performs escort missions, has been fitted with additional 12.7 mm Kord heavy machine guns and 7.62 mm PKM machine guns to defend against Ukrainian naval drones.

• Ukraine’s Kharkiv region has launched an experimental three-tier defence system against Russian fibre-optic drones. It combines an active counter-drone perimeter, anti-drone netting along major roads, and mobile fire groups with shotguns and automated weapon turrets.

Cooperation Deals

• Ukraine and Latvia signed a series of memoranda to deepen cooperation on unmanned systems. The partnership aims to attract investment in UAV production, transfer Ukrainian technologies, and establish modern dual-use testing infrastructure in Latvia.

• Ukraine’s EDRONE and Romania’s OVES Enterprise plan to launch drone production in Romania.

• Ukrainian manufacturer F-Drones has delivered its first 2,000 F10 FPV drones to the United States.

• Kyiv and London could expand their defence cooperation through the exchange of missile and drone production technologies, President Zelensky said.

• Estonian-Ukrainian DoD Solution announced a strategic partnership with US-based Lantronix. The companies will work to accelerate the large-scale deployment of the AURA AI autonomy platform for unmanned systems.

Related Geopolitical Developments

• Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged the military to step up the use of unmanned and AI technologies by 2027.

• Britain chose proven in Ukraine Tekever AR5 surveillance drones to keep British troops safe through round-the-clock intelligence gathering. The AR5 has been selected to replace the ageing Watchkeeper drones.

• American AEVEX Aerospace received an $88.1 million contract from the U.S. Army following its delivery of Phoenix Ghost family drones to Ukraine.

AI and Autonomy

• Ukraine has had drones with target-guidance technology for over a year; however, these systems are still primarily purchased directly by individual military units rather than supplied centrally to the Armed Forces.

Components

• The Ukrainian Oko Camera has unveiled its first purpose-built thermal imaging camera for ISR drones.

• Russia is importing production lines to manufacture drone motors domestically, potentially enabling the production of millions of FPV drones. If the industry takes off, Russia’s defence sector will no longer need to import drone motors from China.

Work with Ukraine

• Brave1 and NATO officially opened applications for their first joint innovation programme, UNITE – Brave NATO. The first call focuses on developing counter-drone solutions and strengthening air defence. To participate, companies from Ukraine and NATO member states must submit a joint application.

• The Brave1 defense cluster postponed the third Defense Tech Valley, Ukraine’s largest international defense technology summit, after a missile strike on a testing site in the Kyiv region.

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Relevant publications:

• “Baba Yaga” Drones in Ukraine: Key Trends;

• Vampire, or “Baba Yaga,” Drones: New Tactics for Frontline Logistics;

• FPV Drone Production: The One-Piece Flow Model at Vyriy Industries;

• FPV Drone Localization in Ukraine;

• Ukraine to Create Sea-Based Interceptor Drone Defence Line;

• Why Russia Still Cannot Counter Ukraine’s Naval Drones.

In addition to their strike campaigns at sea, Ukraine and Russia have been exchanging a series of attacks on each other’s logistics hubs. Russia has targeted Ukraine’s Nova Poshta delivery network for years, carrying out nearly 70 strikes. Ukraine is now responding by targeting Russian logistics centres.

This week’s edition of the Ukraine Drone Brief covers more than 20 drone-related developments in Ukraine and Russia. Read last week’s edition to see whether this type of brief would be relevant to you.

Also, check out the latest edition of my other newsletter, Drone Warfare in Ukraine, featuring in-depth stories such as: Jet-Powered Shaheds and How Ukraine Plans to Counter Them.

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Aerial Drones

• According to President Zelensky, Ukrainian-made drones will be capable of flying more than 4,000 km in 2026, with ranges of 5,000–10,000 km expected in 2027.

• Russia twice attacked passenger trains in the Zaporizhzhia region with Shahed drones, and in another incident targeted a train in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

  A guided drone deliberately hit a locomotive despite civilians being nearby. The attack involved a Shahed Seeker variant equipped with a high-resolution camera and a target-acquisition system.

• Russia’s jet-powered Shahed drones with real-time operator control pose a significant threat to parts of northern, eastern, and southern Ukraine, as well as northern Kyiv. Operators of warehouses, fuel stations, and industrial facilities are recommended to prepare for possible strikes.

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Amid major reshuffles in Ukraine’s government and the civil protests that have followed, the war continues. Several new cooperation initiatives between the EU and Ukraine announced last week could support the creation of joint ventures and provide financing for Ukrainian producers of unmanned systems.

On the battlefield, successful campaigns are ongoing, with Ukrainian forces destroying expensive Russian air-defence systems and targeting vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

My Ukraine Drone Brief is now three months old!

Choose the VIP subscription tier to get access to all my previous and future editions!

If you are looking for a long read on drones, here is my latest piece with a free section on Ukrainian Vampire heavy bombers.

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Aerial Drones

• Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces reported the destruction of a Russian Mi-28 Night Hunter attack helicopter in Russia's Belgorod Oblast. It was destroyed by a SkyFall Shrike 10 FPV drone.

• On the Pokrovsk front, three Russian soldiers surrendered to a Ukrainian drone equipped with a loudspeaker. The pilots flew the drone toward the Russian positions and ordered the troops to lay down their weapons.

• Ukrainian pilots destroyed a Russian Tor air-defence system in occupied Luhansk Oblast using a Hornet kamikaze drone. The drone was nearly 5,000 times cheaper than the $25 million system it destroyed, according to the Ministry of Interior (which would be $5,000 per drone). According to Defence Express, the Hornet drone might cost between $10,000 and $11,000.

• The average operational lifespan of a DJI Mavic reconnaissance drone on the front line is approximately 7 days.

• Ukraine’s newly codified Lupynis-10 FPV drone (by The Fourth Law) features autonomous terminal guidance and can operate at distances of up to 30 km. Equipped with a thermal-imaging camera, it can maintain target lock even under EW conditions. The drone costs a bit over $1,000.

• According to Russian officials, Ukrainian intelligence services deployed FPV drones to Russia’s Bryansk region, allegedly intending to attack military airfields in the Amur and Chelyabinsk regions. The equipment had been transported in containers using fixed-wing drones and balloons. Saboteurs then reportedly retrieved the containers and transported the drones deeper into Russian territory. The attempted strikes were reportedly thwarted.

• Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) documented two new cases in which Russia used munitions containing depleted-uranium components against Ukraine. The hazardous elements were found in Geran-2 strike drones used in two attacks on Sumy Oblast in April 2026.

• Ukrainian forces shot down a rare and expensive Russian Orion UAV. The drone is valued at up to $5 million and can carry aerial bombs and Banderol loitering munitions.

Ground Drones

• Ukrainian forces used a maritime drone to transport and deploy a UGV on the Russian-occupied Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv Oblast. After landing, the machine-gun-equipped ground robot carried out a combat mission.

  This was reportedly the first combat operation in which a maritime platform delivered a UGV to an occupied shoreline, deployed it, and enabled it to perform a combat task.

Naval Drones

• Ukraine’s National Guard unveiled its first internally designed USV. Engineers from the Omega Special Purpose Centre’s separate combat-diver unit worked with specialists from a civilian IT company to create the maritime drone. It acts as a mothership, carrying FPV drones closer to the target area before launching them to continue the mission and strike enemy positions.

Speed of Innovation

• Ukrainian Frontline Robotics makes minor changes to its drones up to 20 times a month and introduces major updates roughly every 6 months to maintain its competitive edge.

C-UAS

• OneDefence’s modular Kestrel interceptor drone has been listed on the BRAVE1 Market. It has a maximum speed of 420 km/h and a cruising speed of 250 km/h. Its tactical radius is up to 20 km, endurance up to 10 minutes, and maximum operating altitude of 6,800 metres.

• Ukrainian Unwave developed the Rebodron, a drone equipped with an integrated EW. The onboard jammer operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequency bands used by most commercial quadcopters, including DJI Mavic drones.

• In June, General Chereshnya drones destroyed more than 20,000 Russian targets. The result placed it at the top of the DELTA ranking for the effectiveness of FPV-drone use during the month.

• Russia developed modular metal structures called Pautina (“Web”) to protect infrastructure facilities from drone attacks.

Components and Supply Chain

• In 2025, Taiwan became Ukraine’s third-largest supplier of battery cells for drones, behind China and Vietnam.

• Ukrainian-Estonian Farsight Vision unveiled FSV Localizer, a tool that can instantly determine the position of enemy drones using intercepted video feeds.

Cooperation Deals

• EU-Ukraine defence industrial partnership:

  • The EU–Ukraine Drone Deal was signed. It will break down bureaucratic barriers and establish common standards, making it easier for Ukrainian and EU-based companies to enter into joint ventures.

  • The European Commission launched the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance. The Alliance brings together companies, start-ups, researchers, armed forces and other users from EU countries and Ukraine. The Commission is now preparing the first meeting of the 18 founding members scheduled to take place in Brussels in September.

  • BraveTech EU, a joint EU–Ukraine initiative, has entered its next phase. Six European companies were selected to further develop promising defence technologies: Soraccel, EdgeX Robotics, Smaesh, Kova Labs, Tempterno Defence, and Rannon.

  • Ukraine has been fully associated to the European Defence Fund (EDF) and to the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), enabling Ukrainian and EU companies to form consortia and participate together in collaborative defence research and development projects supported by the Fund.

  • The EU will launch a €115 million investment programme for agile and rapid defence innovation, known as AGILE. Ukrainian companies will be eligible to participate, and the programme is expected to begin operating in early 2027.

• Ukraine and the Netherlands are launching the Brave Netherlands initiative. It establishes a joint fund with an expected budget of €20 mln.

Related Geopolitical Developments

• The U.S. military used armed USVs in combat for the first time during its operation in Iran. Earlier, U.S. special operations forces had tested Ukrainian Magura maritime drones during exercises in the Philippines.

• Russian and Myanmar forces held a joint demonstration of special-operations capabilities. During the exercise, troops from both countries used FPV drones and the Russian Courier UGV.

• Australia tested Quantum Systems’ Vector AI reconnaissance drone during Exercise Southern Jackaroo. It was used for deep reconnaissance, target detection, and transmitting data to support follow-on strikes. Quantum Systems’ drones have been extensively used in Ukraine, where thousands of flight hours have helped refine the platform.

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Recent articles:

• Drone warfare in Ukraine: Hornet strike drones;

• How Ukrainian EW System LIMA Disrupts Russian Missiles and Drones;

• Ukraine’s Asymmetric Counteroffensive;

• DELTA as the Backbone of Ukraine’s Warfare;

• Ukraine to Create Sea-Based Interceptor Drone Defence Line.

Once Ukraine focuses on a particular category of targets in Russia, rest assured: those targets will be destroyed. The current priorities are tankers transporting fuel to Crimea and Russian artillery systems. Long-range strikes also remain a central issue, with Ukrainian drones now reportedly reaching targets as far as 2,500 km away.

This is the weekly edition of my Ukraine Drone Brief, reserved for VIP subscribers who have only enough time to read a concise, two-page report. Check out this free edition to decide whether it is something you would find useful.

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Aerial Drones

• Ukraine struck the Omsk Oil Refinery at a distance of nearly 2,500 km from the Ukrainian border, marking the longest-range Ukrainian drone operation to date. The attack was conducted by upgraded FP-1 drones.

• Ukraine’s Operation “Auchan” used drones, intelligence, and precision strikes to hit 1,180 enemy targets including armoured vehicles and artillery assets. It halted the Russian offensive for 6 months.

• As of July 10, at least 48 tankers belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet had been struck by Ukrainian drones in the Azov Sea over a 120-hour period. The campaign followed the destruction of ground infrastructure used to transport fuel to occupied Crimea, forcing Russia to shift more supplies to maritime routes.

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The long-awaited opening of Ukraine’s arms exports has begun, though for now only a handful of countries will be able to participate in this carefully controlled framework. The first batch of Ukrainian drones has already headed to the United States.

This and more than 20 other developments in drone warfare in Ukraine and Russia are covered in the latest edition of my digest, Ukraine Drone Brief.

It is available to VIP subscribers only. Here is an example of a free edition.

And if you are looking for a longer read on drones, check out my latest report on interceptor drones: Inside Ukraine’s Interceptor Drone Race: A Pilot’s View, as well as my highly popular report on the American Hornet drones.

As you know, this digest is a reader-supported publication, where I share news and developments based on my analysis of current trends. None of the content is sponsored.

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Aerial Drones

• A Russian Molniya UAV attacked a Ukrainian facility without a control antenna, relying only on a camera and onboard computer. This suggests Russia may be expanding autonomous navigation, target detection, and attack capabilities beyond V2-type drones to Molniya UAVs.

• Russia is increasingly using the “Geran Seeker” Shahed/Geran variant designed to search for and strike high-value targets. It can be installed on different Geran versions, including the jet-powered one. It has an automatic target-recognition, target-locking, and terminal guidance system based on a Raspberry Pi.

• Ukrainian Frontline Robotics deliberately limits automation on its drone assembly lines in favour of manual labour. It allows the company to adapt equipment quickly to the needs of the front line.

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Business cooperation between Ukrainian and Western defence producers in the unmanned tech sector is booming — so soon I may need to launch a special newsletter just to cover these developments.

This edition includes 8 public deals signed last week and 25+ other updates on drone warfare in Russia and Ukraine.

If you've missed my special report on how American Hornet drones are disrupting Russian logistics, check it out.

If you're still deciding whether this type of information is relevant to you, explore this free edition of Ukraine Drone Brief from two weeks ago.

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Aerial Drones

• Ukraine plans to procure 150,000 middle-strike drones through tenders. Each brigade will receive a predictable monthly supply of drones, including ground robotic systems, which should help improve planning.

• Ukraine’s General Cherry developed a Sweetheart reconnaissance drone capable of flying up to 150 km into enemy territory. Its feature is acoustic stealth.

  During one of Russia’s recent attacks, General Cherry's production facility was damaged.

• Following the introduction of Starlink restrictions, Russia reduced its use of BM-35 and BM-39 strike drones. These drones occupied an intermediate niche between tactical-level FPV drones/Molniya-type UAVs and strategic-level systems such as Shaheds. They were used to strike Ukrainian rear positions, airfields, and cities.

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Over the past week, our mornings have started not with coffee, but with following Ukraine’s attacks on strategic assets in Moscow and other regions. Ukrainian drones continue to penetrate some of the most sophisticated layers of air defence that Russia is able to deploy.

This brief covers more than 20 developments — 29, to be precise — in drone warfare in Ukraine and Russia. This week was particularly rich in international cooperation deals signed during Eurosatory in Paris.

I publish these reports every Saturday — consider a VIP-tier subscription to support my independent reporting.

If you are still deciding whether this information is relevant for you, check out last week’s edition, which was free to read.

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Aerial Drones

• In the largest attack against energy infrastructure in Moscow (June 18), according to Russian channels, Ukraine used several types of long-range strike systems, including FP-1, AN-196 Liutyi, RZ-60 Morok, Sichen’, and UJ-26 Bober drones, as well as, possibly, long-range Peklo tactical cruise missiles and Bars jet-powered UAVs.

• Ukraine’s Fire Point unveiled upgraded versions of its FP-1 and FP-2 drones. The FP-2 received a new monowing with an integrated fuel tank, allowing it to carry a 200 kg warhead over a range of 370 km. With the previous 105 kg warhead, its range can now reach up to 700 km.

  The FP-1, equipped with an additional fuel tank in the wing, can reportedly strike targets up to 2,700 km from the launch point, compared with 1,650 km in the previous version.

• Ukrainian authorities recorded the appearance of a new serially produced Russian attack UAV in southern Ukraine. It appears to follow the concept of a cheap, primitive jet-powered UAV. It uses analog video at 3.3 GHz. Its range is estimated at up to 100 km, although strikes have so far been recorded at distances of 30–40 km from the front line. The UAV has a cruising speed of around 260 km/h, can accelerate up to 300 km/h, and carries an estimated 4–5 kg warhead.

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“Every day, 10 new drone models are created in Ukraine,” my friend in Ukraine’s Armed Forces joked. The truth is that Ukraine’s developers are innovating at lightning speed. Last year alone, more than 500 drone models were codified — and we can only imagine how many more were already being used by military units without formal codification.

My Ukraine Drone Brief has already been out for two months, and I’m making today's edition free so more people can read and enjoy it.

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Aerial Drones

• In the Brave1 Marketplace, the Kolibri FPV drone by TAF Industries ranked in the top three in two categories: “Most Hits” and “Most Orders.”

  This information is accessible in the closed section of the catalogue, which is available to military personnel, manufacturers, and investors.

• Ukrainian combat units are testing SLAVIK, a reconnaissance drone by Vyriy Industries, which can remain airborne for 1.5 hours. It is positioned as a Ukrainian alternative to DJI drones.

• Ukraine’s ROBONEERS presented the WARDOG TRN relay drone. It can carry up to 3 kg of relay equipment and deploy an airborne communications node at altitudes up to 900 m.

• Amid Russia’s persistent shortage of heavy multirotor drones, Defence Minister Belousov claimed that the domestic industry would deliver 20,000 heavy logistics and combat drones, capable of carrying 10–40 kg, to the front in 2026.

• Putin said Russia is working on a satellite constellation to control heavy drones. This likely refers to the “Bureau 1440” satellite constellation. Russian milbloggers expect that once Russia expands its satellite fleet, it could enable Geran strikes far from the front line with higher precision.

  For the context, the first of the 16 satellites recently fell back to Earth.

Ground Drones

• Since the beginning of 2026, Ukraine’s MoD has officially codified 50 UGV models. Over the whole of last year, 60 ground drones were codified.

• From January to early June 2026, Ukrainian forces conducted more than 50,000 logistics and evacuation missions using ground robotic systems.

• Ukraine’s 60th Mechanized Brigade (Third Army Corps) received an AI-enabled ground-based air-defence robotic system capable of independently identifying, tracking, and destroying targets without human involvement.

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Naval Drones

• Magura USV by UForce made their Indo-Pacific debut during Exercise Balikatan 2026, destroying a decommissioned target ship in a live-fire maritime strike off Itbayat in the Batanes archipelago (Philippines) in April 2026.

• Romania plans to ask Ukraine to reprogram its naval drones so they self-destruct far from Romanian waters.

C-UAS

• Ukraine’s LITAVR interceptor drone has a declared maximum speed of 350 km/h and an operational radius of 40 km. There has been a recorded flight of more than 80 km from the launch point. The drone’s maximum flight altitude is 9 km. Its key feature is its automatic terminal guidance system (Last Mile or Pixel Lock).

• Ukrainian Yartura unveiled the Dancer 4.5.0 interceptor, with a maximum speed of 450 km/h. The drone can engage targets at altitudes of up to 4.8 km and has an operational range of up to 30 km.

  It is equipped with an automatic target-tracking system (ATTS), allowing it to re-engage a target if the first attack attempt fails.

• General Cherry’s Bullet interceptor can now hunt jet-powered Shaheds.

  Equipped with the STRIX chemical booster, Bullet launches faster and requires less operator effort. To support the upgrade, General Cherry redesigned and reinforced the lower section of the drone’s frame.

AI

• More than 100 Ukrainian companies have gained access to Brave1 Dataroom, a secure platform designed to train AI models using real-world data. One of the key focus areas is the development of technologies for the automatic detection and interception of Russian drones.

Cooperation Deals

• Ukrainian SkyFall and Airbus formed a strategic alliance. The parties plan to integrate Ukrainian P1-Sun interceptor drones with Airbus’s Air C2 airspace management system.

• Germany’s INTEC and Ukraine’s Skyeton will partner to supply unmanned systems to European armies, with a primary focus on Raybird, a small tactical UAV designed for long-endurance reconnaissance missions.

• Zelensky said that Ukraine could send expert teams to the Baltic states to help them defend against “stray” drones.

• Norway will contribute €109 M (NOK 1.2 billion) to the development and procurement of maritime drones for Ukraine in 2026. This will involve deliveries from the Norwegian and Ukrainian industries.

• Moldova wants to develop domestic UAV interceptors to protect its airspace. Chisinau is consulting with Kyiv on gaining access to the necessary technologies and Ukrainian expertise.

• Ukrainian Unwave tested its tactical EW systems abroad for the first time, holding trials in the Czech Republic. The company tested how its EW works against DJI, Autel, and FPV drones using different control frequencies. The testing was made possible by a temporary export permit for military equipment.

Related Geopolitical Developments

• Russia criticized Ottawa’s drone production deal with Ukraine, calling Canada a “warmonger” nation. It also threatened to publish the addresses of all Canadian facilities involved in drone production for Ukraine.

• German Quantum Systems, which operates in Ukraine, will integrate its Jäger hit-to-kill interceptor drones with Airbus military helicopters.

Work with Ukraine

• According to Defender Media, MaXon Systems, the company behind the recently presented nearly autonomous interceptor drone, is beginning to raise a seed round.

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Reporting feels good and easy when Ukraine achieves major battlefield successes. A highly productive middle-strike campaign and continued long-range strikes were among the key developments we saw last week. This optimism is tempered by the high civilian casualties caused by Russia’s continued missile and drone attacks.

I don’t remember the last time I sent out four newsletters in one week. I guess that time is now — this is my fourth publication, and I have worked on something for the newsletter every day.

My reports released earlier:

• Arms Trends in Ukraine: 25 May - 31 May, 2026;

• Operation Spiderweb: One Year Later;

• Drone warfare in Ukraine: record FPV strike and drone-assault unit doctrine.

As always, this 2-page brief (approximately 20 updates) is for VIP subscribers - it is shorter and saves you time!

If you are new to my newsletter, you can check my open-access Ukraine Drone Brief 1st and 2nd editions to see whether this type of info is useful for you.

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Aerial Drones

• Russia’s Donetsk drone port continues to expand. In May, 37 additional drone shelters have been built, bringing the total number to 130. The facility includes four storage bunkers and four launchers. Jet-powered drones are believed to operate from this location, although dedicated launch infrastructure for them has not been identified in satellite imagery. This may suggest that jet-powered drones are launched from vehicles rather than fixed launch sites.

• On June 5, the 1st Separate Centre of the Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, announced that it established fire control over Donetsk Airport.

• Ukrainian unmanned systems units have struck 174 Russian air defence assets during the first five months of 2026, according to Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces. The total value of Russian losses in this sector alone exceeds $5.4 bn.

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