Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Ukraine's Drone Surge Slashes Russian Defences, Hits Moscow

5/23/2026

27 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Ukraine produced 2.2 million UAVs in 2024, expects over 4.5 million in 2025, and spent $2.6 billion on 96 % domestic FPV drones.
The drone industry expanded from 41 firms in 2022 to more than 290 by early 2025.
In January 2026 the council reported that FPV drones accounted for about 60 % of Russian army losses.
“Middle Strike” drones have destroyed over 500 Russian air-defence sites, six oil refineries, and struck Moscow in mid-May 2026.

History

Historical Context

The first large-scale combat use of drones came in the 1991 Gulf War, when U.S. forces flew more than 1,000 RQ-2 Pioneer sorties and kept at least one UAV aloft continuously for real-time intelligence. Earlier Israeli and Iranian experiments in the 1970s-80s proved the concept. Decades later, cheap FPV drones dominate the Russo-Ukrainian war, driving Ukraine’s 2024-25 surge to millions of units.

1 of 2

Story summary

Ukraine produced 2.2 million UAVs in 2024, expects over 4.5 million in 2025, and spent $2.6 billion on 96 % domestic FPV drones.
The drone industry expanded from 41 firms in 2022 to more than 290 by early 2025.
In January 2026 the council reported that FPV drones accounted for about 60 % of Russian army losses.
“Middle Strike” drones have destroyed over 500 Russian air-defence sites, six oil refineries, and struck Moscow in mid-May 2026.

1 / 2