Finance
Ukraine Has Remote-Control Drones That Can Hit Targets at Great Distance, Minister Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 23, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 23, 2026
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Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov says Kyiv has developed remotely controlled interceptor drones capable of downing targets hundreds to thousands of kilometres away, marking a major leap in its air‑defence capability.
Ukraine Deploys Remote-Control Drones Able to Hit Distant Targets
Ukraine's Advancements in Drone Technology and Defense
Development and Capabilities of Interceptor Drones
April 23 (Reuters) - Ukraine has developed interceptor drones that can be directed from a distance and are capable of hitting targets hundreds or thousands of kilometres away, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Thursday.
Ukraine was virtually without any capacity to build drones when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, but now has a thriving industry. Emphasis has been placed on interceptor drones as a more effective - and more economical - means to defend against drone attacks.
Remote-Controlled Air Defense Systems
"We are launching a new level of 'small' air defence. Now, control of interceptors is possible at a distance of thousands of kilometres," Fedorov wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
"Today we have a confirmed result -- downing a target at a distance of hundreds and thousands of kilometres. Ukraine is the first in the world to systematically scale remote control of interceptor drones."
Operational Efficiency and Safety
Fedorov said the system "increases the efficiency of interception, minimises risks for operators and allows scaling capabilities without being tied to the front line".
Drone Production and Ongoing Conflict
Ukrainian officials estimated domestic drone production last year at about 4.5 million and capacity has since increased.
Ukraine still faces large barrages of Russian drone and missile attacks more than four years into its war with Russia.
Recent Attacks and Defense Outcomes
In this year's largest attack last week, in which 17 people died, Ukraine said its air force units had shot down or neutralised 31 missiles and 636 drones, but 12 missiles and 20 drones struck targets.
International Cooperation and Support
Ukraine has established joint arms production with several European countries, and Kyiv has offered help to Middle East countries countering Iranian drones, concluding accords with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Ron PopeskiEditing by Bill Berkrot)
Key Takeaways
- •Ukraine has pioneered remote‑control interceptor drones that can be managed from thousands of kilometres away, enhancing operator safety and scalable defence architecture (pravda.com.ua).
- •March saw a record of over 33,000 Russian UAVs destroyed by Ukrainian interceptors, reflecting rapid improvement in effectiveness (newsukraine.rbc.ua).
- •Ukraine’s drone industry has expanded from near‑zero in early 2022 to projected production of around 4.5 million drones in 2025, fueled by domestic innovation and international partnerships (armyrecognition.com)
References
- Ukrainian interceptor drones can now be controlled from thousands of kilometres away – new level of 'small' air defence | Ukrainska Pravda
- Ukraine's interceptor drones shoot down record number of Russian UAVs in March | RBC-Ukraine
- Ukraine Emerges as World Leader in Drone Technology Driven by Battle-Proven Innovation
Frequently Asked Questions about Ukraine has remote-control drones that can hit targets at great distance, minister says
1What new drone technology has Ukraine developed?
Ukraine has developed remote-control interceptor drones that can hit targets hundreds or thousands of kilometres away.
2How has Ukraine's drone manufacturing capacity changed since 2022?
Since Russia's invasion in 2022, Ukraine has built up a thriving drone industry, with domestic production estimated at about 4.5 million last year, and increasing capacity.
3What are the advantages of Ukraine's new interceptor drones?
The new drones increase interception efficiency, reduce risks for operators, and allow for scalable deployment without proximity to the front line.
4Which countries is Ukraine cooperating with for drone and arms production?
Ukraine has partnered with several European countries and made agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
5How effective were Ukraine's air defences in the recent large-scale attack?
During the largest attack this year, Ukraine's air force neutralized 31 missiles and 636 drones, though 12 missiles and 20 drones struck targets.
