Over the past 24 hours, Russian air defense units have shot down 740 fixed-wing drones launched by Ukrainian forces, military correspondent Aleksandr Kots reported, citing data released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on May 3.

According to Kots, this marks the highest figure recorded since the start of the operation. The previous peak came on April 5, when 693 drones were intercepted. On average, he notes, air defense crews have been neutralizing roughly 30 drones per hour over the course of a day.

At the same time, Kots points to what he sees as a steady expansion of Ukraine’s capacity to carry out long-range strikes. He suggests that the development of drone capabilities is being supported by European industrial resources, which could lead to a rise in attacks targeting sites deep inside Russian territory.

In response, he calls for stronger countermeasures. Among the steps he outlines are expanding the network of mobile fire groups, integrating them into a unified system with real-time data exchange, and improving early warning mechanisms.

Kots also argues that Russia should target not only drone operators and storage facilities, but also those he describes as the driving force behind Ukraine’s drone program. He further suggests that Ukrainian forces may attempt attacks aimed at disrupting Victory Day events, and that such risks should be addressed in advance.