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Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the New York Post that Russia is reducing missile production and diverting funds to increase drone output, with the ultimate goal of launching 1,000 drone attacks per day against Ukraine.
Currently, Russian drone attacks average 350–500 per day, but Moscow aims to reach 600–800 per day in 2026, with the long-term target of 1,000 drones daily, Zelenskyy said.
Cost efficiency of drone interception
Zelenskyy highlighted the economic challenge of intercepting drones:
- A drone interceptor costs $3,000–5,000
- A typical Russian “Shahed” drone costs around $10,000
- By contrast, a single Patriot missile costs $4 million
“Ukraine spends $10,000 to shoot down a drone, while a Middle Eastern country would spend $4 million. This is the experience we are offering,” Zelenskyy noted.
Challenges with Iranian drones
Israel recently informed the U.S. about a critical shortage of ballistic missile interceptors amid ongoing tensions with Iran. Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested talks with Zelenskyy, leveraging Ukraine’s expertise in intercepting Shahed drones.
Ukrainian specialists are now assisting in the Middle East, including the deployment of interceptors to protect U.S. bases in Jordan. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is ready to support Middle Eastern countries in exchange for diplomatic backing to encourage Russia toward peace.
