European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new partnership between the European Union and Ukraine on Wednesday aimed at joint production of drones, combining Ukraine’s battlefield experience with Europe’s industrial and technological capacity. The announcement was made during von der Leyen’s visit to Kyiv, where she was presented with the Ukrainian Order of Europe by President Volodymyr Zelensky for her support of Ukraine’s European integration and defense efforts.
Von der Leyen emphasized that Ukraine possesses “truly unique” expertise in drone and anti-drone systems, developed during more than four years of conflict with Russia. Europe, she said, has substantial technological infrastructure and secure production facilities that can be leveraged to scale up production. The partnership, known as the EU-Ukraine Defence Industrial Partnership, is designed to foster joint investment and increase output of battlefield-proven drone systems at speed.
Von der Leyen confirmed that the EU had allocated an additional €1 billion from its broader €90 billion financial assistance package toward drone procurement in Ukraine, following a previous €3.9 billion disbursement in June. Additional funds, potentially reaching tens of billions of euros, are intended to support purchases of drones, cruise missiles, and fighter jets, underscoring the EU’s expanding role in Ukraine’s defense.
President Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s achievements in drone manufacturing, stating that the country currently produces around 10 million drones annually, with plans to double output. He expressed confidence that the new partnership would further validate the success of Ukraine’s defense industry alongside European partners.
The collaboration aligns with the EU’s strategic objective to enhance its own drone capabilities amid increasing security challenges on its eastern border. Von der Leyen noted recent incursions and underscored the importance of harnessing Ukraine’s combat-tested knowledge to counter emerging threats in the region.
Meanwhile, the conflict continued to inflict civilian casualties in Ukraine. Russian strikes reported on Wednesday killed six people and wounded at least 20, targeting industrial and medical facilities in the Black Sea port city of Odesa and in Sumy, near the Russian border. Authorities described ongoing attacks involving guided aerial bombs and drones, marking the fifth consecutive day of such bombardments on Odesa.
The United Nations reported that June 2026 saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in Ukraine since April 2022, with at least 293 civilians killed and 1,990 injured amid intensified long-range missile strikes by Russian forces. Since the conflict began in February 2022, the UN has verified 16,431 civilian deaths, including 803 children, though the agency notes the figure likely underrepresents the true toll due to challenges in documenting casualties in heavily contested areas.