Fact Check: Russia has unleashed 28,743 Shahed drones on Ukraine since February 2022.

Fact Check: "Russia has unleashed 28,743 Shahed drones on Ukraine since February 2022."

What We Know

The claim that Russia has launched 28,743 Shahed drones against Ukraine since the onset of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, originates from a statement made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an address to the Dutch parliament. In his speech, Zelenskyy specifically noted that "since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia has used 28,743 Shahed drones" and highlighted that 2,736 of these drones were launched in June 2025 alone (Zelenskyy in an address to the Dutch parliament).

The Shahed drones, particularly the Shahed 136 (also known as Geran-2 in Russian service), are Iranian-designed loitering munitions that have been extensively used by Russia in its military operations against Ukraine (HESA Shahed 136). Reports indicate that these drones have been employed primarily for strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure, contributing significantly to the ongoing conflict (Zelenskyy reveals how many Shahed drones Russia has).

Analysis

The figure of 28,743 drones cited by Zelenskyy is corroborated by multiple sources, including Reuters and CNN, which reported on his statements regarding the drone usage. The consistency across various reputable news outlets lends credibility to the claim. Furthermore, the context provided by Zelenskyy emphasizes the strategic partnership between Russia and Iran, suggesting that such a high volume of drone attacks would not have been feasible without Iranian support (Iran enabled Russia to lob 28,743 Shahed drones at Ukraine since 2022).

However, it is essential to consider the potential for bias in Zelenskyy's statements, as they are made in the context of rallying international support against Russian aggression. While the numbers appear consistent across multiple reports, the exact count of drones used can be challenging to verify independently due to the fog of war and the nature of military operations. Nonetheless, the assertion aligns with broader reports on the increasing use of Shahed drones in the conflict, particularly in 2025 when drone attacks reportedly surged (Russia Is Churning Out Attack Drones).

Conclusion

The claim that "Russia has unleashed 28,743 Shahed drones on Ukraine since February 2022" is True. This conclusion is based on the direct statement from President Zelenskyy, which is supported by multiple reputable news sources. The consistency of the reported figures across these sources, combined with the context of the ongoing conflict and the known use of Shahed drones by Russian forces, substantiates the accuracy of the claim.

Fact Check: Russia has unleashed 28,743 Shahed drones on Ukraine since February 2022.