Russia Plans to Expand Drone Forces to 165,500 by Year-End, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Warns

As of early April, Ukrainian intelligence reports indicate that Russian forces have expanded their unmanned aerial systems (UAS) units to 101,000 personnel, with plans to increase this number to 165,500 by the end of the year.

This was reported by Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, on April 9.

He emphasized that Ukraine “cannot afford to stop” in its decisive fight against the Russian invasion. According to Syrskyi, efforts are ongoing to further develop Ukrainian UAS units across various branches of the military.

“In March, compared to February, the total personnel losses inflicted on the enemy by our unmanned systems units increased by 29%. On average, drone units now carry out over 11,000 combat missions daily. Moreover, according to the results of March, 50% more verified targets were struck compared to February's statistics, amounting to over 150,000 targets,” Commander-in-Chief noted.

Syrskyi called unmanned systems a key factor in maintaining the strategic initiative for Ukraine’s defense forces, noting that these units have been delivering the most impactful and widespread strikes against Russian forces.

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War in Ukraine

Ukraine Continues to Eliminate More Russian Troops Than Russia Can Recruit—89,000 in 3 Months

Apr 01, 2026 11:58

“For four consecutive months, starting from December 2025, our UAS units have neutralized more Russian personnel than the enemy recruits into its ranks,” Syrskyi remarked.

Meanwhile, Russian military losses in March hit their highest level since the onset of the war, with over 35,000 confirmed casualties in just one month, as reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In his statement, Zelenskyy emphasized that 33,988 Russian soldiers were killed or gravely wounded due to drone strikes alone. Furthermore, an additional 1,363 Russian soldiers were eliminated through artillery and other forms of attack.

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War in Ukraine

Russia Bleeds 316 Soldiers per km² and Still Can’t Seize the Donetsk Region

Apr 08, 2026 16:16

As Russia continues to face difficulties replenishing its military forces amidst mounting losses in Ukraine, the Kremlin may turn to limited compulsory reserve call-ups, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War.

The think tank noted that growing dissatisfaction within Russia highlights the struggle of the Defense Ministry's recruitment efforts, particularly for its drone units. Complaints about the poor outcomes of the recruitment drive are part of broader concerns that Moscow's voluntary enlistment system is increasingly ineffective, especially after months of heavy casualties.

In January 2026, Russia initiated a recruitment campaign for its drone forces, targeting students, but the terms of the contracts have raised concerns among potential recruits. The contracts offered failed to guarantee that recruits would not be reassigned to more dangerous assault infantry roles, contributing to their reluctance to enlist.

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