5 questions about Ukraine’s record of drone warfare

Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from The Associated Press is the basis of this artificial intelligence-assisted article.

1. What milestone did Ukraine reach in its air defense efforts in March?

Ukraine shot down more than 33,000 Russian drones in March, marking a record monthly figure since Russia launched its full-scale invasion over four years ago. The country has also established a new command within its air force dedicated to boosting drone interception capabilities, according to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

2. How far can Ukraine now strike inside Russian territory, and why does it matter?

Ukraine has more than doubled its deep-strike range since the start of the war, going from roughly 630 kilometers (400 miles) in February 2022 to approximately 1,750 kilometers (1,100 miles) today. This expanded reach has allowed Ukraine to hit Russian oil installations that fund Moscow’s war effort, as well as manufacturing plants supplying the Russian military.

3. What happened at the Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea?

Ukraine struck the Russian oil refinery at the Black Sea port of Tuapse for the third time in less than two weeks, with two earlier strikes this month already destroying 24 oil storage tanks and damaging four others. Residents near the refinery were evacuated as a precaution, according to the Krasnodar regional governor, though no details on the number of evacuees were provided.

4. Are other countries taking an interest in Ukraine’s drone technology?

Yes — Ukrainian officials say Middle Eastern and Gulf countries are now seeking Ukraine’s interceptor drone systems amid the Iran war. Ukraine’s drone technology has been described as cutting-edge and battle-tested and has drawn broad military interest internationally for its role in offsetting Russia’s larger conventional military force.

5. What were the human costs of drone warfare on both sides in the latest exchanges?

Russian drone attacks on Ukraine killed three civilians and wounded five others, including two people killed in Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region and a man killed in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih. On the Russian side, three people were killed and three wounded in Ukraine’s drone attack on the Belgorod border region, while a strike on the Ukrainian city of Konotop knocked out its power and water supply.

READ MORE: Ukraine says it shot down 33K Russian drones in March, a monthly record