Russia has surged ahead of Ukraine in the production of long-range drones, largely due to crucial technological support from China, Ukrainian intelligence officials have told Politico.
According to Oleh Aleksandrov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia is receiving a continuous flow of vital drone components from China. These include electronics, navigation and optical systems, engine parts, and processor modules that form the backbone of Russia’s drone manufacturing push.
Ukraine’s Early Drone Advantage Diminishes
Ukraine once held a commanding lead in the drone war, producing up to one million tactical drones in 2024, with ambitious plans to manufacture 2.5 million tactical and 30,000 long-range drones in 2025. However, Russia has rapidly closed the gap—and surpassed Ukraine—in recent months.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the shift, revealing that Ukraine currently produces around 100 long-range drones daily. In contrast, Russia is manufacturing approximately 300 each day and aims to boost that figure to 500 in the near future.
Aleksandrov further noted that Russia has more than doubled its long-range drone output from 15,000 units in 2024 to over 30,000 in 2025. The Kremlin’s target for this year includes up to 2 million tactical drones.
Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi emphasized the urgent need to scale up military drone capabilities: “We must constantly increase our capabilities to stay one step ahead.”
China Restricts Drone Access to Ukraine, Favors Russia
Kyiv has accused Beijing of implementing technology export restrictions that favor Moscow. President Zelenskyy criticized China for effectively blocking Ukraine’s access to the popular Mavic drones—while continuing to supply Russia.
“The Chinese Mavic is open to the Russians and closed to the Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy stated, adding that the drone model has become largely unavailable across Europe, except for continued supply to Russia.
Moscow’s Drone Technology Advances
Russian forces have begun deploying fiber optic-powered drones, which are resistant to radio jamming and more difficult to detect. This development has posed new challenges for Ukrainian defenses, as these drones are now virtually invisible in the sky.
“We can’t see them anymore. We have to use acoustic tools and other detection methods,” said Andrii, a Ukrainian army commander.
Russia is also refining its electronic warfare systems. According to the commander, only about 20% of drones supplied to Ukrainian forces remain functional due to constantly shifting radio frequencies. As a result, Ukrainian units must continually reconfigure equipment—an expensive and time-consuming task.
Expansion of Drone Factories Across Russia
Moscow’s rapid drone expansion is supported by a network of manufacturing hubs. Key facilities include the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, where Shahed drones are assembled, and the Kupol plant in Izhevsk, which manufactures Garpiya drones. Additional production centers are located in Moscow Oblast, Ekaterinburg, and St. Petersburg.
Aleksandrov revealed that Russia is aiming to produce 30,000 long-range drones and another 30,000 decoy drones in 2025. The Kremlin’s broader plan includes manufacturing up to 2 million FPV (first-person view) drones this year alone.
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