MOSCOW, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry has created a unified training system for drone specialists, Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said Friday during a ministry board meeting.
Krivoruchko said more than 8,000 personnel had completed training in the first half of the year. He added that the training centers now provide instruction not only for individual specialists but also for entire units, with combat coordination conducted using standard equipment.
According to Krivoruchko, the number of drones delivered to Russian troops in the first six months of 2026 more than doubled compared with the same period in 2025, a surge he claimed would ensure superiority over Ukrainian forces.
Russia has been actively expanding its domestic drone production and operational capabilities amid the conflict with Ukraine. The importance of further modernizing the country's drone warfare capabilities has been repeatedly emphasized by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov during official meetings. ■