The New York Times, an American media outlet, stated that Russia has become a "drone empire." Compared to last year, the production capacity of Russian long-range suicide drones has increased by nine times. In 2025, the Russian military launched 34,000 long-range suicide and decoy drones toward Ukraine, with the largest operation involving as many as 800 drones. The Ukrainian side claims that they have shot down and suppressed 88% of the Russian drones, but Western analysts and media generally believe that Ukraine is exaggerating its achievements, and the actual situation is much worse than what the Ukrainian authorities claim.
At the same time, the New York Times stated that in 2025, Russia could produce 30,000 "Geranium-2" suicide drones, and in 2026, its production capacity could double from the current level. Russians have expanded factories, and almost everyone in the area has been mobilized to participate in production, including many high school students and foreign workers.
Currently, both the Ukrainian authorities and Western media believe that after winter begins, the Russian military will launch large-scale air raids continuously, which is the most terrifying, as it will cause power outages and heating shortages in major Ukrainian cities. Some Ukrainian officials have already urged residents to leave the cities and find ways to survive the winter in the countryside. At the same time, Western media also believe that even NATO would be unable to cope with the large-scale drone swarm attacks by Russian suicide drones.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1843287752260618/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.