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Ukraine’s Drones Wrecked $20 Billion of Russian Military Might in 7 Months
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s Drone Forces have inflicted an estimated $20 billion in damage to Russian military assets over the past seven months, targeting more than 168,000 individual objectives, according to an official update published by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on January 5.
The data from the official Facebook page of the Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS), outlines the results achieved since the specialized branch was created in 2024 to coordinate Ukraine’s use of unmanned aerial, ground, and maritime systems in combat operations.
According to the military, Ukrainian drone units have carried out over 832,000 combat sorties during this period. Targets eliminated include 532 tanks, approximately 2,500 artillery systems and howitzers, nearly 7,700 vehicles, more than 5,500 motorcycles and ATVs, and over 50,000 Russian personnel.
The SBS also reported more than 350 strikes carried out directly inside Russian territory, resulting in an estimated $3 billion in monthly losses for Moscow’s forces.
These long-range drone operations represent a growing component of Ukraine’s asymmetric strategy aimed at degrading Russia’s warfighting capacity despite limited access to traditional airpower.
The Unmanned Systems Forces were formally established in 2024 as a separate branch within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The decision followed a surge in Ukraine’s development and deployment of domestic drone technologies to compensate for shortages in manned aircraft and long-range artillery.
The new branch brings together aerial reconnaissance units, drone strike operators, and developers of naval and ground-based robotic platforms under a unified command. Its operations are credited with playing a key role in disrupting Russian logistics, targeting artillery positions, and reducing the effectiveness of Russian armored maneuvers.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov reported that the eBaly incentive system helped set a record 106,859 drone strikes in December, including over 33,000 against Russian personnel. He noted that verified strike data is used to reward units with points exchangeable for equipment, encouraging competition across military branches.
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