A Ukrainian drone struck a Russian industrial plant some 1,300 km (800 miles) from Ukraine, a native official mentioned on Tuesday (July 1, 2025), after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prioritized the weapon’s growth and Russia pounded Ukraine with a month-to-month record of drones in June.
Both sides in the greater than three-year warfare following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of its neighbour have raced to enhance drone know-how and improve their use on the battlefield. They have deployed more and more refined and deadlier drones, turning the warfare into a testing floor for the brand new weaponry.
Ukraine is below extreme pressure from a Russian push at locations on the roughly 1,000-km (620-mile) entrance line, however analysts say its defences are largely holding agency. With latest direct peace talks delivering no progress on U.S.-led worldwide efforts to halt the combating, Russia and Ukraine are bulking up their arsenals.
Russia final month launched 5,438 drones at Ukraine, a new month-to-month record, in keeping with official information collated by The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 1,000 km (620 miles) east of Moscow, killing three folks and injuring 35, Alexander Brechalov, head of the Udmurtia area, mentioned. The plant’s employees have been evacuated, he mentioned.
“The drone struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, which produces air defence systems and drones for the Russian military,” in keeping with an official with Ukraine’s Security Service, the SBU.
At least two direct hits have been recorded on the plant’s buildings, the official mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not approved to talk publicly.
Ukraine has for months been utilizing domestically produced long-range drones to strike vegetation, storage websites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory. In May final yr, a Ukrainian drone hit an early-warning radar in the Russian metropolis of Orsk, some 1,800 km (1,120 miles) from the Ukrainian border, Kyiv officers claimed.
Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine’s home manufacturing of drones is about to extend in response to Russia’s expanded barrages.
“The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones,” he mentioned on Telegram late Monday (June 30, 2025).
“This is extremely important,” he added. “Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities; Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures,” he mentioned.
Russia’s Defence Ministry mentioned that 60 Ukrainian drones have been downed in a single day over a number of areas, together with 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov area and 4 over the Saratov area.
At the identical time, 4 Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine metropolis of Zaporizhzia throughout the night time, leaving greater than 1,600 households with out energy, in keeping with authorities.
Ukraine’s air drive mentioned on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) that Russia fired 52 Shahed and decoy drones on the nation in a single day.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s particular envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, rebuked Russia for persevering with to strike civilian areas of Ukraine whereas successfully rejecting a ceasefire and dragging its ft on a peace settlement.
“We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war,” Mr. Kellogg mentioned on the social platform X late on Monday (June 30, 2025). “Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.”
Ukraine is creating its personal defence trade as uncertainty stays over whether or not the Trump administration will proceed to offer essential army assist.
Between March and April, the United States allotted no new assist to Ukraine, in keeping with Germany’s Kiel Institute, which tracks such assist.
Europe its assist and for the primary time since June 2022, surpassed the U.S. in complete army assist, totalling €72 billion ($85 billion) in contrast with €65 billion ($77 billion) from the U.S., the institute mentioned final month.
