'Putin Won’t Distract Us' – UK to Supply at Least 120,000 Drones to Ukraine in Largest-Ever Package

Britain announced its biggest drone package for Ukraine, pledging at least 120,000 drones this year as part of broader military support. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Octopus interceptor drone, developed jointly by Ukraine and the UK. (Photo by Ukrainian Ministry of Defense / DefenceU / X) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The United Kingdom will supply Ukraine with at least 120,000 drones in 2026, marking the largest drone package ever provided by London, the British government announced on Wednesday, April 15. The announcement coincides with a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Berlin, where more than 50 countries are coordinating military aid for Kyiv. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . UK Defence Secretary John Healey traveled to Berlin to co-chair the 34th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group alongside German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The package includes long-range strike drones, reconnaissance systems, logistics drones and maritime capabilities, with deliveries already underway this month. “This big boost of battle-proven drones will give Ukrainian forces the capability they need to defend their people and fight back,” Healey said. He stressed that the UK remains committed to Ukraine despite competing global crises. “In the fifth year of Putin ’s brutal war, the UK is stepping up further and providing the highest ever number of drones for Ukraine this year,” Healey said, adding: “With eyes on the Middle East in recent weeks, Putin wants us to be distracted, but Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and nothing will distract us from continuing to stand with them.” Other Topics of Interest Russian Drone Strikes Liberia-Flagged Grain Ship in Black Sea Ukrainian authorities said a merchant vessel en route to Ukraine’s Black Sea port to load up corn was hit by a Russian drone on Tuesday morning. Largest drone package so far The 120,000 drones represent a significant increase compared to previous UK support. In February, Britain announced a £500 million ($678 million) military package focused primarily on air defense, including missiles and interceptor systems, rather than large-scale drone deliveries. While the UK has previously supplied drones to Ukraine, those deliveries were smaller in scale and typically focused on specific capabilities rather than mass deployment. The new package signals a shift toward high-volume drone warfare, reflecting the growing role of unmanned systems on the battlefield. Drones have become a central component of Ukraine’s war effort, used for reconnaissance, strikes and logistics. Russia launched around 6,500 one-way attack drones against Ukraine in March, according to the UK government, highlighting the intensifying use of drone warfare. Most of the funding for the new package will go to UK-based defense companies, including Tekever, Windracers, and Malloy Aeronautics, supporting domestic production while supplying Ukraine. The drone package is part of the UK’s broader £3 billion ($4 billion) annual military support for Ukraine, which also includes artillery ammunition and air defense systems. In December 2025, Britain announced a major air defense package , including missile systems and interceptor support, rather than large-scale drone deliveries, according to previous Kyiv Post reporting. In late November 2025, Kyiv and London agreed to launch licensed production of the OCTOPUS anti-aircraft drone in the UK, then-Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said. The system – developed in Ukraine and presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky during his last October visit to Britain – has proven effective against Shahed drones, with production expected to reach several thousand units per month, all destined for Ukraine’s air defense. According to Bloomberg, the UK aims to manufacture around 2,000 drones monthly at a facility in Mildenhall operated by Ukrspecsystems UK, part of Ukraine’s NAUDI group, with British engineering support. While specifications remain classified, OCTOPUS is designed to operate at night and under heavy electronic warfare, using a rocket-like airframe with X-shaped wings. Julia is a Deputy Head of News and correspondent for Kyiv Post who has previously worked as a parliamentary editor, journalist, and news editor. She has specialized in covering the work of the Ukrainian parliament, government, and law enforcement agencies. Yuliia Zavadska is a news writer at Kyiv Post. She has experience in breaking news coverage, fact-checking, and digital journalism, with a focus on fast, accurate reporting and clear storytelling. Before joining Kyiv Post, she worked as a news feed editor for several leading Ukrainian media outlets.