Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that next year Russia will allocate 12 billion dollars for jet-powered drones and “loitering” munitions

Russia plans to spend $12 billion next year on the production of jet-powered drones and loitering munitions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his Saturday evening address. According to the leader in Kyiv, the information is based on internal Russian documents obtained by Ukraine’s military intelligence services.

Zelensky said the documents indicate both the quantity of weapons Russia is preparing to produce in 2027 and the funds allocated to this category of armament. So far, the statement has not been accompanied by the publication of the documents or independent confirmation of the information.

According to the Ukrainian president, Russia is increasingly using jet-propelled drones in attacks on cities across Ukraine. In some of the attacks launched against Kyiv, these aircraft reportedly accounted for approximately two-thirds of all the drones used.

Loitering munitions, commonly known as kamikaze drones or suicide drones, can fly over an area before identifying and striking a target. The announced allocation would target exclusively the production of these drones and munitions, not Russia’s overall military budget.