Ukraine launched more cross-border drone strikes than Russia in March for the first time since the war began in 2022, signalling a shift in the aerial dimension of the war as both sides expand unmanned capabilities, reported Ukraine Business News.

Russia’s defence ministry said it had shot down 7,347 Ukrainian drones during the month, the highest figure it has recorded. In comparison, the Ukrainian Air Force reported tracking 6,462 Russian drones and 138 missiles, intercepting around 90% of drones and nearly 74% of missiles.

Ukrainian strikes targeted strategic infrastructure, including the Baltic ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk, key hubs for Russian oil exports. Attacks continued into April, with further strikes reported in the Leningrad region and explosions at a major chemical facility in the Voronezh region.

The intensifying campaign comes as Ukraine scales up drone production. Fire Point said it can produce hundreds of long-range strike drones daily and has received interest from Gulf countries, though exports require government approval. The company estimates it could ship up to 2,500 drones per month, with each unit costing around €50,000.

However, production faces constraints. According to industry experts, shortages of minijet engines and critical materials are slowing output across Europe, limiting the expansion of long-range strike drone programmes. Demand for such engines is expected to reach thousands of units monthly, outpacing current supply.

To address supply chain risks, Ukrainian manufacturer General Chereshna has partnered with Croatian firm ORQA to build an underground facility in Ukraine to produce drone components. The initiative aims to localise manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, while parallel production in Croatia will support technology development.