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Ukraine Imports Nearly 130,000 Civilian Drones in Three Months

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Ivan_khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
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Ukraine Imports Nearly 130,000 Civilian Drones in Three Months
Ukrainian servicemen develop and produce drone munitions using 3D printers in a mobile workshop of the 25th Airborne Brigade in Donetsk Oblast, March 23, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukraine imported nearly 128,000 civilian drones in the first quarter of 2025, according to the State Customs Service on April 22.

The total value of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) reached $371.3 million, marking a 39% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

According to the report, 98% of the imported drones came from China, accounting for over 125,000 units. Most of these imports were exempt from customs duties under a preferential regime introduced to support the defense sector.

Civilian drones have become a critical component of Ukraine’s military operations. They are used for reconnaissance, artillery targeting, and direct strikes against enemy personnel and equipment.

Although originally designed for commercial use, these drones offer advantages such as portability, ease of use, and advanced optics—including thermal imaging—making them suitable for short-range surveillance.

However, limitations remain. Civilian UAVs have relatively short flight ranges, limited endurance, and are highly vulnerable to electronic warfare systems. As a result, they are often treated as expendable assets on the battlefield.

The most commonly used models by Ukrainian forces include:

  • DJI Mavic 3

  • DJI Mavic 3 Pro

  • DJI Mavic 3T

  • DJI Matrice 300 RTK

  • Autel EVO Max 4T

These drones have been supplied through a combination of private donations, volunteer procurement, and government purchases. Since 2024, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has increased its involvement in providing commercially available UAVs to support frontline operations.

In total, Ukraine imported drones and drone components worth over $1.17 billion in 2024. Additionally, drone-related parts worth $134.8 million were brought into the country during that period.

The legislative framework supporting this effort was reinforced in June 2023, when Ukraine’s parliament lifted import duties on goods intended for the production and maintenance of drone systems. This includes materials, components, and equipment used by domestic manufacturers.

Earlier, Ukrainian drone units were credited with causing up to 65% of Russian casualties, according to Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the 429th “Achilles” Brigade. He noted that the widespread use of UAVs has transformed battlefield tactics, leading to the formation of specialized drone brigades and the launch of the “Drone Line” project to scale up effective unmanned operations.

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