President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s drone range is expected to expand dramatically over the next two years, reaching up to 10,000 kilometers (about 6,213 miles) by the next year.Zelensky announced the new phase of Ukraine’s long-range drone program development in an interview with a self-described investigative journalist and US right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, during a meeting in Kyiv, released on Friday, July 24.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“So what’s very important right now: you have drones at 3,000-plus kilometers (roughly 1,864 miles),” Zelensky said. “And this year, we’ll have them at 4,000 kilometers [roughly 2,485 miles], next year – from 5,000 to 10,000 [kilometers, roughly 3,107 to 6,213 miles],” he continued.Steady progress since last yearZelensky first officially announced that Ukraine has successfully tested a long-range drone capable of covering 3,000 kilometers (roughly 1,864 miles) on March 17, when he said that Ukraine is currently developing a line of long-range weapons that “will help guarantee the security of our state.”The growth in range reflects a broader push within Ukraine’s defense sector as it strives to modernize its drone industry.Domestic production of unmanned systems has surged by roughly 900% percent in 2025, according to United24Media, with the Defense Ministry shifting toward AI-assisted, longer-range strikes aimed at extending Ukraine’s reach into deeper Russian territory while limiting the exposure of personnel to direct frontline threats.