Russia plans to build 2 million FPV drones in 2025 with China's help, Ukraine's Intelligence says
Photo: Russia plans to produce 2 million FPV drones this year (Getty Images)
Russia plans to manufacture up to 2 million FPV drones this year for its war against Ukraine and aims to increase production of long-range UAVs and decoy drones to 30,000 units each, Politico reports, citing Oleh Aleksandrov, Spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service.
Aleksandrov said Russian drone production heavily relies on Chinese components, including hardware, electronics, navigation, optical and telemetry systems, engines, microcircuits, processor modules, antenna field systems, control boards, and navigation.
"They use so-called shell companies, change names, do everything to avoid being subject to export control and avoid sanctions for their activities," the Spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service said.
While Beijing repeatedly denies sending drones or weapons components to Russia, Aleksandrov claims Moscow is critically dependent on Chinese supplies for both tactical and long-range drones. This dependency, he warns, is enabling Russia to erode Ukraine's lead in drone technology and manufacturing.
A representative of the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service added that Russia doubled production of long-range drones from 15,000 in 2024 to over 30,000 in 2025. In addition, it seeks to produce 30,000 decoy drones designed to overload Ukrainian air defenses.
As for FPV drones, Aleksandrov said Russia aims to build 2 million units in 2024 alone.
China's position on war
Despite declaring a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, China continues to deepen economic cooperation with Russia. Chinese firms have been selling dual-use goods that can be repurposed for military use.
In April, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine possesses intelligence data about Chinese weapons supplies to Russia - an accusation Beijing denies.
Zelenskyy also said more than 150 Chinese nationals are believed to be fighting for Russia. Earlier, the Ukrainian military captured 2 Chinese citizens who fought in the Russian army.
