Ukraine said it shot down more than 33,000 Russian drones in March, marking the highest monthly total since the full-scale invasion began over four years ago. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine is now producing about 1,000 interceptor drones per day, but faces a shortage of trained operators, noting that intercepting a single enemy drone can require two Ukrainian interceptors.

Ukrainian officials said Russia produces between 200 and 250 Shahed drones daily, with the capacity to reach 350 per day. Zelensky warned that Moscow plans to expand its military to as many as 2.5 million troops by 2030 and argued that Europe would need at least 3 million troops to counter the threat. He also highlighted the high cost of air defense, saying a single day of intercepting attacks can cost up to €80 million.

Ukraine has also expanded its long-range strike capabilities, now able to hit targets roughly 1,750 kilometers behind enemy lines, compared with 630 kilometers at the start of the invasion. Recent drone strikes targeted a Russian oil refinery at the Black Sea port of Tuapse, destroying storage tanks and prompting evacuations after oil spills.

Both sides reported casualties from continued drone attacks. Russian authorities said air defenses intercepted 186 Ukrainian drones overnight, while attacks in border regions killed and injured civilians. In Ukraine, strikes in several regions left at least three civilians dead, injured others, and disrupted power and water supplies.