Ukraine is advancing its maritime defence capabilities, with Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Fedorov noting that the country has moved into mass production of unmanned surface vessels and related maritime drones. The statement, reported by RIA News, highlights a broader push to scale up the production of surface drones and to accelerate the development of new unmanned watercraft. The emphasis is on achieving substantial, repeatable production volumes that can support a growing fleet of autonomous surface platforms in various operational scenarios. Ukraine views these vessels as a strategic asset for securing coastlines, monitoring coastal zones, and enhancing situational awareness across its coastline and inland waterways. The government has indicated that the new models in development include unmanned boats with innovative features that are being actively tested and refined to meet evolving tactical requirements. These efforts align with Ukraine’s broader push to modernize its military capabilities through automation and advanced propulsion systems, while seeking to accelerate domestic manufacturing capacity for critical defence technologies. [Citation: Official statements from Ukrainian government communications reported by RIA News]
Around the same period, President Vladimir Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s progress in building a maritime capability that includes a fleet of seaplanes and an emphasis on equipping forces with weapons and ammunition that meet NATO standards. He characterized the nation’s unmanned maritime assets as a groundbreaking development, highlighting that the fleet of seaborne drones represents one of the most advanced configurations in this domain. Zelensky also called on foreign partners to localize arms production within Ukraine, a move aimed at integrating international technology transfer with domestic manufacturing. During discussions held on the sidelines of a recent forum, he explored possibilities for joint arms production with representatives from the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. These conversations underscored Ukraine’s intent to foster international cooperation while expanding its own industrial base. [Citation: Zelensky remarks from official briefings and forum discussions]
Earlier disclosures touched on what observers described as intent from Russia to begin new training for drone operators, signaling a broader regional focus on unmanned systems. The narrative around operator readiness and the scale of production underscores the rapid evolution of unmanned capabilities as central to regional security dynamics. Analysts note that the Ukrainian approach combines domestically grown technology with international standards, aiming to ensure interoperability with NATO equipment and procedures. The ongoing push to expand production, improve reliability, and introduce novel unmanned boat designs reflects a strategic priority: to field autonomous platforms that can operate across multiple domains, including coastal monitoring, mine countermeasures, and maritime surveillance. [Citation: Regional defence analyses and public briefings]