Russian Defense Ministry officials claim their forces set a new monthly record by shooting down more than 4,300 Ukrainian long-range drones in December 2025, as the aerial warfare between the two nations reaches unprecedented intensity. According to data published by Moscow and analyzed by ABC News, Russian air defenses intercepted 4,379 drones at an average rate of 141 per day, marking a 29% increase from November and highlighting the massive scale of Kyiv’s expanding drone campaign.
The claimed figures, which ABC News cannot independently verify, suggest a significant narrowing in the gap between Russian strikes on Ukraine and Ukrainian strikes on Russia. In the same month, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 5,307 long-range munitions, including 5,131 drones. Ukrainian defenses claimed to have shot down approximately 81% of the incoming drones. While Russia’s attack volume in December was similar to recent months—though down from a peak of over 6,400 munitions in July—the reported surge in intercepted Ukrainian drones indicates Kyiv’s growing capacity to sustain deep strikes.
Ukrainian officials have been explicit about their strategy to develop long-range strike capabilities to inflict economic and military costs deep inside Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in October that the country’s “production potential for drones and missiles alone will reach $35 billion next year,” aiming to make the war “absolutely unacceptable for the aggressor.” The majority of these strikes are conducted with relatively low-cost, domestically produced drones targeting oil refineries, pipeline infrastructure, and industrial facilities.
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Despite Moscow’s public efforts to downplay the attacks—often attributing damage to falling debris from intercepted drones—open-source evidence, including video and photographs, confirms that many Ukrainian drones penetrate Russian air defenses. The days with the highest claimed interceptions were December 24, with 387 drones reported destroyed, and December 11, with 336 downed. These figures, while likely incomplete, are viewed as indicative of the increased reach, quantity, and frequency of Ukraine’s drone arsenals.
The escalation in aerial warfare reflects a strategic shift by both sides to destabilize the other’s economy and logistical backbone. As Ukraine strives to expand its “national defense product” and Russia bolsters its air defenses, the data points to a relentless and technologically evolving conflict where drone production and interception rates have become key metrics of wartime resilience and capability. This record-setting claim, whether fully accurate or not, underscores a new phase where the skies have become as contested as the front lines.
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