Ukraine’s new defence minister pushes for more domestic drones

KYIV - The Ukrainian military is working to replace Chinese-made drones with domestically produced models to reduce the war-ravaged nation’s dependence on imports and sanctioned supply lines, said newly appointed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

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The 34-year-old, who was appointed in January, told reporters in Kyiv that Ukraine would continue to rely on drones as a tool of asymmetric warfare - using novel weapons and tactics against a larger opponent ~ as it fends off Russia’s invasion.

Both countries have drastically increased drone production since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, with Ukraine saying in 2025 that it could produce as many as four million per year.

Imported drones and components remain crucial, however, and many come from China, which is subject to Western sanctions and seen as friendly to Russia.