Russia has significantly stepped up its use of Shahed drones to attack Ukraine, launching more than 2,000 drones in October alone, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address. These attacks are taking place virtually daily, and Ukraine is facing a continuous wave of terror from Russia, which uses high-tech components, including chips and microcontrollers, supplied from abroad.

“We are grateful to our soldiers who daily resist the Shahed and missile attacks,” Zelenskyy said, “Russia is constantly increasing the intensity of these attacks and, unfortunately, continues to use Western components for its attack drones and missiles.”

The President noted that out of more than 2,000 launched Shahed drones, more than 170,000 components that could have been blocked were used in just one month. Zelenskyy stressed that despite the sanctions, certain companies from China, Europe and America continue to supply technological parts that contribute to Russian military terror.

“These are not just details – these are micro-contributions to global terror,” he stressed. “The world must tighten export controls and prevent the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia.

Zelenskyy also stressed that protecting Ukraine from Shahed attacks also means protecting the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia. He called on the international community to increase sanctions pressure and punish violations of restrictions. “Every scheme to circumvent sanctions is a crime that threatens not only Ukraine but also global security. By supporting Russia, such schemes help the regimes in Iran and North Korea to develop their own capabilities,” the President concluded, pointing to the need for a global approach to overcome this threat.