Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu revealed his nation has increased its production of military drones over the past year, but it still needs to overcome some tech issues, according to footage published by his department Saturday. 

Russia has regularly used drones during a two-year war on Ukraine, but has often resorted to deploying cheap, Iranian-made Shahed UAVs. 

“The production capacities that have been created allow us to complete most of the tasks that we are faced with today,” Shoigu said during a tour of drone production facilities in the central Russian region of Udmurtia. 

During a meeting with officials, Shoigu said that Russia still had to tackle issues regarding electronic warfare and using artificial intelligence in drones. 

In recent months, Moscow has been hinting that it had ramped up drone production as it looks to break its deadlock on the battlefield with Ukrainian forces. 

Ukrainian military leaders have said drones will be key to gaining an advantage in the ongoing war, but military analysts said both sides’ reliance on these weapons has hampered their nations troops’ ability to gain ground.

With Post wires.