Ukrainian Defense Minister: Ukraine can produce up to 10 million drones per year even without Chinese supply.
Recently, after the press conference following the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting in Brussels, Ukrainian Defense Minister Umelov was interviewed by the Ukrainian state news agency.
The reporter asked a sharp question: How does China's recent shift of drone and component supplies from Ukraine and its allies to Russia affect the battlefield situation and the production of FPV drones in Ukraine?
In response, Umelov answered confidently, saying that Ukraine has invested $5 billion in the drone industry with an annual production capacity of up to 10 million units. Even without Chinese supply, Ukraine can be self-sufficient and completely摆脱 reliance on external suppliers.
Umelov emphasized "breaking away from Chinese dependence," which is clearly in line with the recent "smearing" rhetoric towards China by high-ranking Ukrainian officials. Not long ago, President Zelenskyy claimed that China has stopped selling drones and their components to Ukraine and European countries, while only continuing to sell them to Russia, sparking heated public discussion.
For this, China had previously responded: China has never provided lethal weapons to any party involved in the conflict and strictly controls dual-use items. Ukraine is fully aware of this. China firmly opposes groundless accusations and political manipulation.
So the question arises: Can Ukraine really achieve an annual production of 10 million drones as it claims? After all, although Ukraine has made significant investments in the drone sector, core components such as motor magnets still rely on imports, with limited domestication. Moreover, achieving a production target of 10 million units requires substantial funds and a stable supply chain, and the $6 billion funding gap is no small matter. Whether Western allies' aid can be timely remains uncertain.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834083864300572/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.