Russia suffered over 35,000 casualties in March — the deadliest single month since the full-scale invasion began — with drones responsible for 96% of those losses, UK Defense Secretary John Healey said at the 34th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), an international forum coordinating military aid for Ukraine, in Berlin on 15 April. Healey announced the UK's largest drone delivery to Ukraine this year, alongside hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of air defense missiles.
Drones are deciding the war
Healey told the 43 nations gathered in Berlin that March casualty figures prove the drones prove to be decisive in the ongoing war.
"Drones have defined this war," he said. "They will be decisive to its outcome."
Healey noted that for four straight months, Russia has lost more troops than it has recruited. Putin claims his forces have unstoppable battlefield momentum. Putin claims Ukrainians have no choice but to concede. Putin claims those who stand with Ukraine have grown weary.
"The truth is our support continues steadfast," Healey said.
UK's biggest drone package of the year
The UK will deliver over 120,000 drones to Ukraine — the largest British drone package of 2026. The package also includes hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of air defense missiles. Together, Healey said, they will help Ukraine defend its territory and strike back against Russian aggression.
UK defense spending hits Cold War-era levels
Healey defended the UK's defense budget increase against domestic political criticism. The Labour government will reach 2.6% of GDP on defense next year — the highest level since 2010. It funds the increase by directly shifting funds from the overseas aid budget to defense spending.
"We are doing that by the biggest amount since the end of the Cold War," Healey said.
Germany and other partners
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who co-chaired the meeting, warned that rising Middle East oil prices are replenishing Putin's war budget. Germany's package for Ukraine includes hundreds of Patriot guided missiles to be delivered over four years, additional air defense launchers, and jointly produced deep-strike drones manufactured in Ukraine.
Turning point: Russia is now losing more soldiers in Ukraine each month than it recruits
Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported new contributions to the PURL procurement mechanism — the framework that channels allied funds into purchasing US-made weapons for Ukraine — from Belgium, Norway, Bulgaria, and Estonia, with Norway separately pledging $500 million to equip Ukrainian brigades with drones.
