Drones will not bring 'decisive advantage' to either Ukraine or Russia, says HUR chef
Drones, which are being actively used in the war by both Ukraine and Russia, will not bring a "decisive advantage" to either side, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate’s (HUR) chef, Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview with the French newspaper Liberation published on Feb. 15.
"Drones have been in full use by both sides for a year now,” he said.
“But so far, drones have not brought a decisive advantage to either side, and this is not going to happen. And why is that? Because, just like in the Middle Ages, until a man goes on foot to plant a flag in an enemy trench, you can launch a million drones over it and no one will take it back."
Ukraine is set to receive one million drones from NATO members in 2024, Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press briefing following the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting on Feb. 15.
The Feb. 14 Ramstein meeting participants officially launched the Drone Coalition according to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
The drone coalition was established by Ukraine and Latvia, with the decision made during the visit of Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks to Kyiv in December 2023. Latvia is working to create a coalition to transfer drones to Ukraine, involving approximately 20 countries, Pabriks said.
Sweden and the UK announced their participation in the drone coalition for Ukraine on Jan. 25.
The Netherlands has also joined a military coalition of allies that will supply Ukraine with advanced drone technology to bolster its "offensive potential" in the war against Russia, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said on Feb. 14.
At the same time, Ukraine itself is set to manufacture over one million drones in 2024 through the Drone Army initiative, according to the Digital Ministry report.
On Feb. 6, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered the Ukrainian Armed Forces to establish a separate branch dedicated to UAVs.
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