Ukraine's defense forces are holding the strategic initiative and preventing Russian troops from relaunching a large-scale offensive, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said following a drone development briefing on 9 April 2026.
Drone units are now the decisive edge, he said. "These units are currently delivering the most mass and effective strikes against the enemy. For four consecutive months, starting from December 2025, our unmanned systems units have been neutralizing more enemy personnel than Russia recruits into its ranks," Syrskyi said.
The March figures underscore the trend: compared to February, Ukrainian drone units inflicted 29% higher total Russian personnel losses. Daily, those units now execute more than 11,000 combat missions.
March: 150,000 verified targets hit, Middle Strike strikes surge 350 times
Ukraine hit over 150,000 verified targets in March — a 50% increase over February, according to Syrskyi's data.
Middle Strike systems — operating at an operational depth of 30 to 120 kilometers — carried out nearly 350 strikes during the month. The targets included 143 Russian logistics facilities and warehouses, 52 command posts, and 20 oil and energy infrastructure objects. Syrskyi attributed the results to "the combined effect of domestic UAV manufacturers, growing operator skill, and the organizational decisions we have taken."
Ground robotic systems also recorded a 50%-plus increase in completed tasks compared to February. The number of enemy UAV pilot positions suppressed rose 26% month-on-month, with the 414th Separate Drone Brigade "Madyar's Birds" highlighted by name for its systematic destruction of Russian UAV landing sites.
Russia, however, is not standing still. According to Ukrainian intelligence, as of early April, Russian occupying forces had expanded their unmanned troop contingent to 101,000 personnel, with plans to reach 165,500 by the end of 2026. "That is why we cannot afford to stop in this decisive confrontation," Syrskyi said.
Development of drone units across all branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — including ground forces, territorial defense, and naval unmanned surface vessels — is continuing, he added.
