Critical imbalance in the skies: almost 12 Ukrainian drones against our 5

July 2 2026 15 500 22

In June 2026, the Russian Armed Forces used 5749 long-range kamikaze UAVs against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian monitoring resources. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used 11,617 long-range kamikaze UAVs against Russia, according to Russian military-related public groups, citing aggregated data from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

According to the cited statistics, the Russian Armed Forces used half as many long-range attack drones as the Ukrainian Armed Forces. There have been instances of the Russian Armed Forces reducing the number of long-range kamikaze UAVs used before. This is due to production modernization, stockpiling, and other factors. While there's nothing critical about this, the quantitative figures are cause for concern.

It's also worth noting that over the past few months, the enemy has repeatedly reported on the Russian Armed Forces' gradual transition to new unmanned weapons systems. For example, the Seeker guided kamikaze UAVs (a modification of the Geran-2 (Shahed) drones equipped with an automatic target acquisition system and artificial intelligence for terminal guidance) and the Geran-3/4/5 jet-powered kamikaze UAVs (drones that replace the standard Geran-2 with GPS guidance and a two-stroke piston internal combustion engine), which have higher speed characteristics.

Regarding the sharp increase in drone launches by Ukraine, this is certainly alarming. This widespread use negatively impacts the operation of Russia's traditional air defense system, which consists of air defense missile systems. Over time, overloads could lead to operational disruptions in the air defense missile systems. Therefore, the widespread deployment of "small air defense" systems and interceptor drones could reverse this negative trend and help the Russian Armed Forces neutralize attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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AlexSam

+2

2 July 2026 14: 18

If our knights of state propaganda haven’t screamed about this, then it’s a blatant lie!
vlad127490

+1

2 July 2026 14: 31

Critical imbalance in the skies: almost 12 Ukrainian drones against our 5

If such publication was allowed, it means the problem has come to light and cannot be hidden.
1. Karelian
  
  +1
  
  2 July 2026 14: 48
  
  Where else can we hide it? At least they've given us some balm: the Ukrainian Armed Forces' drone operator losses are up to 300%. And these losses are only among the LBS. Long-range drones can be controlled from Tallinn. NATO has a super drone center in Riga.
  1. Igor M.
    
    -3
    
    7 July 2026 17: 01
    
    Karelsky, strikes on UAV launch sites are taking place all over Ukraine, not just on the LBS.
    This means that not only long-range drones are being hit, but also those who launch them.
2. Alexey Lan
  
  0
  
  2 July 2026 18: 33
  
  In fact, the number of drone bomb drops and the number of actual targets hit differs significantly. It would be interesting to know the actual statistics on actual hits. However, no one will say. Everything is approximate, everything is shaky.
  1. Igor M.
    
    -3
    
    7 July 2026 17: 06
    
    Alexey Lan, the lostarmour website has updated statistics on the results of strikes by the Rubicon UAV center, as well as statistics on the use of Lancet UAVs. And new statistics have appeared on "UAV Use by Troops of Unmanned Systems." Everything there is precise, not vague.
3. Igor M.
  
  -3
  
  7 July 2026 16: 59
  
  vlad127490, if you're not aware, anyone can publish whatever they want on this website. Otherwise, there's no real problem. It's just that Russia is increasingly using guided Geraniums for short-range air-to-air missiles, meaning they're not counted among long-range drones. And the author doesn't take into account that the Russian Ministry of Defense also uses thousands of FABs with UMPK missiles and hundreds of missiles.
  1. vlad127490
    
    0
    
    7 July 2026 17: 55
    
    Igor M. (Igor). High-explosive aerial bombs (HAB) with a universal planning and correction module (UMPK) are essentially kamikaze UAVs, drones without a motor.
    The MiG-31 can easily lift 5 tons to an altitude of 25 km. It has eight hardpoints. Two can carry 1500 kg, and four can carry 500 kg. From an altitude of 25 km, it can fly 300 km. A bomb with a UMPK is certainly cheaper than a missile. It has no heat signature. A low-altitude bombing mission to a depth of 200 km should be carried out to eliminate bridges, railway sidings, power plants, and transformers.
    1. Igor M.
      
      -2
      
      8 July 2026 04: 42
      
      vlad127490, the MiG-31 is an old aircraft. It doesn't have the capacity to constantly bomb.
      Especially since some of them have already been converted to the Kinzhal. And from 25 km away, it's hard to hit anything.
      Otherwise they would have launched them like that a long time ago, because the higher they go, the further the FAB and UMPK will fly.
Sergey Latyshev

+2

2 July 2026 16: 12

They're probably lying.
They are trying to discredit our Ministry of Defense.
Harry777

+1

2 July 2026 16: 13

It's no secret. Everyone who has friends, acquaintances, or relatives on the front lines has been talking about it for a long time—they don't skimp on 15-20 drones per soldier.
1. Igor M.
  
  -2
  
  7 July 2026 17: 08
  
  Harry777, the article talks about long-range, aircraft-type drones that strike the rear of Russia and Ukraine. And you're talking about the use of small drones on LBS.
Gosh 65

-5

2 July 2026 16: 29

Very important information.
So what? The Ministry of Defense doesn't know about this?
I'm sure he knows, now everyone knows.
So what? Words, words, articles…
You have to do it and talk about it as little as possible. "A chatterbox is a spy's treasure," remember?
1. Harry777
  
  -4
  
  2 July 2026 16: 41
  
  Don't those hohol-pigs know this!? Don't make me laugh, really.
  Those who argue must do so, and there are many more fascists.
  The Ministry of Defense, of course, knows - especially those who received prison sentences.
Vox Populi

-3

2 July 2026 17: 51

Quote: Harry777
And then khokhlosvinyas Don't you know this!? Don't make me laugh, really.
Anyone who argues, we need to do it, and an order of magnitude more. fascists.

Another modern Übermensch and secret admirer of the NSDAP, I. Ilyin and N. Arsenyev, has spoken out.
Period, this is how we will win, gentlemen chauvinists!!!
1. Omer Skakavac
  
  +1
  
  3 July 2026 18: 56
  
  We won't win this way. Who are we kidding? The only way is different, with different leadership.
  1. Igor M.
    
    -4
    
    7 July 2026 16: 56
    
    Omer Skakavac, well, we're winning. Just recently, we took the town of Konstantinovka in the DPR, and finally completely liberated the LPR and DPR. At the current pace of advance (3000 square kilometers in six months), victory is about a year away.
    1. Omer Skakavac
      
      0
      
      14 July 2026 15: 51
      
      Or maybe minus 3000 square kilometers? They say the result was negative by summer.
      1. Igor M.
        
        -1
        
        16 July 2026 02: 17
        
        Omer Skakavac, there was no negative outcome. I am closely monitoring developments. Even the conservative LostArmor map shows an increase of 2000 square kilometers. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the liberation of 133 settlements, including Konstantinovka.
GR777

-1

3 July 2026 22: 03

The situation is clear: it's time to strike at the disclosed drone production sites in NATO countries. It's a shame the Leopold cats have built a nest in the Kremlin.
1. Igor M.
  
  -3
  
  7 July 2026 16: 55
  
  GR777, on the contrary, is a very good thing. Because I don't want to fight NATO at the same time, i.e., on two fronts.
Igor M.

-3

7 July 2026 16: 53

In June 2026, the Russian Armed Forces used 5749 long-range kamikaze UAVs against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian monitoring resources.
about the gradual transition of the Russian Armed Forces to new unmanned weapons systems. For example, the Seeker guided kamikaze UAVs (a modification of the Geran-2 drones (of the Shahed type)),

These are related things, because the Geranium-2 and Seeker are increasingly used to hit targets near LBS, and therefore are not included in the statistics of long-range drones.

Critical imbalance in the skies: almost 12 Ukrainian drones against our 5

There is no imbalance in the sky because the Russian Ministry of Defense still uses thousands of FABs with UMPK and hundreds of different missiles.

Regarding the sharp increase in drone launches by Ukraine, this is certainly alarming. Such widespread use negatively impacts the operation of Russia's traditional air defense system, which consists of air defense missile systems. Over time, overloads could lead to operational disruptions in the air defense missile systems.

Last year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched nearly a thousand long-range drones across Russia per day, and shot down the vast majority of them. So, nothing particularly critical is happening—the Ukrainian Armed Forces are still a long way from the 1000-plus drones per day that some military correspondents dreamed of.