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KYIV - Ukraine has boosted its manufacturing of drones to an unprecedented level, with thousands of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used everyday to track enemy forces, guide artillery, and hit targets well beyond the frontlines of the war.
Hundreds of drones targeted Moscow, the capital of Russia, last week in one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks in three years of war, killing at least three people and injuring 17 others, and bringing four airports in the capital to a temporary halt.
The attack proved once again how drones are dominating the battlefield as Russia and Ukraine race to get the upper hand amid Washington-mediated efforts to bring about a ceasefire to the hostilities that have been ongoing since February 2022.
Vladimir, from Kyiv, worked in information technology (IT) before the war, but now is one of the most advanced military engineers on the battlefield.
At a drone manufacturing plant, he tests his hand-made drones before sending them to be used against Russian forces.
Vladimir believes that the drones could be as effective as the American-made anti-tank system, the Javelin, since they fly a long distance.
"I would say, it's very long. If we compare it to for example the Javelin missile. The Javelin range is five kilometers only. The drone is fifteen," Vladimir said.
Ukraine has set up drone manufacturing and training facilities in almost all parts of the country under its control.
"I just came here to study, because, unfortunately, I didn't have any flying practice," said Christina, a Ukrainian who has just applied to a drone training center. "They called me, offered me a job, and immediately said, we'll teach you.”
Ukraine has trained more than 2,000 people on the use of first-person-view (FPV) drones since the war broke out three years ago.
"Ukraine is an advanced country that generally develops drone centers. So there is a great future for this," said Shark, who builds drones.
By developing domestically-produced drones, Ukraine is enhancing its ability to defend itself while reducing its dependence on external support.
Ukraine has also been the target of frequent drone strikes. Among the aerial weapons that Russia has used against Ukraine are Iranian-made Shahed drones.
"We shoot down Shaheds with the small arms that are available to us," said Mykola Misechko, a Ukrainian commander.
Western allies have made enormous efforts to arm Ukraine with aerial defences, along with hundreds of thousands of drones.
Ukraine said last week that it would purchase 4.5 million FPV drones this year, costing an estimated $2.6 billion.
Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a devastating toll, with hundreds of thousands killed or wounded, millions forced to flee their homes, and entire cities reduced to ruins. The conflict has also sparked the most intense standoff between Moscow and the West in many years.
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