Zelenskyy warns Ukraine faces surge in Russian drone attacks as Kremlin ramps up production
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched nearly 500 drones and over 20 missiles against Ukraine in the past week. He accused Russia of using Ukraine as a "testing ground" for its weapons, particularly highlighting the rise in Shahed drone attacks. Russia has established two factories in Tatarstan to produce Shahed drones, with production reaching "hundreds per week." Despite being easier to intercept than missiles, these drones can still cause significant damage and are frequently used in attacks on Ukrainian cities. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for more air defense systems to counter these threats. Recent escalations include the U.S., U.K., and France allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles against targets in Russia, prompting Russia to respond with its new Oreshnik missile.