Ukraine Nears AI Drone Breakthrough That Could “Surprise” Russians, Budanov Says

Ukraine is developing autonomous drone control systems powered by artificial intelligence that could soon deliver a battlefield “surprise” for Russian forces, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, former head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR), Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov said, speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum on April 23.

He stated Ukraine has already made progress in creating systems capable of independently identifying targets and maneuvering without constant human control.

“We need a transition to autonomous systems capable of independently identifying targets and maneuvering. Ukraine already has such developments, and I am convinced they will soon become a surprise for the enemy,” Budanov said.

According to him, the war has reached a stage where simply increasing the number of drones is no longer enough to shift the balance. Both Ukraine and Russia, he said, have pushed existing control technologies close to their limits.

Budanov described the next phase of warfare as one defined by the full integration of artificial intelligence into drone operations, enabling faster decision-making and greater resilience in contested environments.

He also pointed to the broader strategic context, arguing that Ukraine must remain strong both on the battlefield and domestically to succeed in negotiations.

“No one in the world deals with the weak, and international law does not work without force. To succeed in negotiations, we must be strong on the battlefield and united at home,” he said.

He also said Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt Russia’s oil sector are having an impact, describing them not only as a financial blow but also as a reputational one.

“The world sees that Russia is no longer a reliable supplier. Our goal is clear—to deprive the enemy of the resources needed to wage war,” Budanov said.

Earlier, the Ukrainian National Guard’s 1st Corps “Azov” began conducting strikes against Russian logistics in and around occupied Donetsk using AI-enabled Hornet attack drones, capable of operating far beyond the front line.

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