President Vladimir Putin says Russia is accelerating its drone production to nearly 1.4 million this year, marking a tenfold rise, to bolster the capabilities of its armed forces in their military operations in Ukraine.

Putin spoke at a military-industrial commission meeting on drone development in St Petersburg on Thursday, as Moscow’s “special military operation” in neighboring Ukraine has mainly involved intense artillery and drone strikes along a heavily fortified 1,000-km front, engaging hundreds of thousands of troops.

“In total, about 140,000 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were delivered to the armed forces in 2023,” the Russia president said, adding, “This year, the production of drones is planned to increase significantly. Well, to be more precise, almost 10 times.”

Both Russia and Ukraine have boosted their drone arsenals and increased their domestic production of various types of these aircraft, while drone footage has illustrated the horrors of war, depicting lethal attacks on infantry, artillery, and tanks.

“Whoever reacts faster to these demands on the battlefield wins,” Putin stressed.

The Russian leader further said that Russia is making nearly weekly progress in drone technology and emphasized the need to enhance its drone defenses, which involve systems that detect, disrupt, and ultimately destroy incoming drones.

“The key task is to produce a wide range of aerial unmanned vehicles, to establish serial production as quickly as possible,” Putin emphasized.

Putin on Wednesday said he had ordered, earlier this week, a boost of Moscow’s army to 1.5 million active soldiers to ensure a well-trained military.

The Russian leader on Monday signed a decree boosting the number of active troops by 180,000 soldiers — making the Russian army the second largest in the world by active troop size. 

It is the third time Putin has ordered a troop boost since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022. 

Russia restructured its military districts earlier this year — forming the Moscow and Leningrad military districts — in response to tensions with the West. 

The country launched its military campaign in Ukraine’s Donbas two and a half years ago with the main objective of liberating the Donbas region.

Since then, Western countries have been supporting the former Soviet republic with diplomatic and financial backing, providing Kiev with arms and munitions despite repeated warnings by the Kremlin that such a policy would only prolong the war.