Cyprus News Agency

Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed that Russia plans to allocate $12 billion next year solely to the production of jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions.

The Ukrainian president said Russia plans to spend $12 billion next year on the production of jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions.

Zelensky said Ukraine’s interception rate for jet-powered “Shahed”-type drones stands at 55 percent, adding that Russia launched more than 2,730 jet-powered “Shaheds” in September, more than 1,500 of which were shot down or neutralized.

Zelensky said a significant proportion of the drones are still reaching their targets, adding that Ukraine would increase its defense capacity. He said more than 90 percent of conventional “Shahed”-type drones are shot down and that the goal is to raise defenses against jet-powered drones to the same level.

Zelensky claimed that many intelligence services have information indicating that Russia wants to expand the war and its activities to other countries and regions, saying that joint defense and preventive measures are therefore important.

Zelensky said Ukraine is holding talks with its partners on stronger sanctions.