Ukraine builds AI drone fleet for new strikes on Russia

Ukraine is developing new AI-guided drones designed to bypass Russian air defenses and autonomously strike targets deep inside Russia, according to a report in The Atlantic, signaling a potentially more aggressive campaign phase. The report states Ukrainian officials described recent attacks on Russian data centers and airports as "only the beginning." The article details that Ukraine has so far used long-range drones mainly to disrupt Russian airspace, forcing flight cancellations, rather than directly striking airports. A secret operation called "M&Ms" proposes launching up to a thousand AI-controlled drones daily at Moscow airports, a plan President Volodymyr Zelensky has yet to fully authorize due to risks to civilian passengers. Ukrainian weapons manufacturers are still building the necessary drone fleet. The report notes that former President Donald Trump has not commented on the recent attacks and has shifted from a mediator role to making deals with Russians, leaving Zelensky a stark choice between accepting Russian terms or finding new ways to fight, with or without American support. The article also mentions that Russia has intensified its bombing of Ukrainian civilian areas in response to Ukraine's campaign.