Drones increasingly utilised in Ukraine's war effort

Ukraine says it is rapidly increasing its production of drones as demand grows on the front line.

The government has relaxed import laws and scrapped taxes for drone parts and equipment.

The expansion is being funded by a successful fundraising campaign called the Army of Drones, according to a BBC report.More than $108m (£87m) has been raised with the help of celebrity supporters like Star Wars' Mark Hamill.

Soldiers on both sides of the conflict are also increasingly reliant on smaller and relatively cheap drones that are traditionally used for filming.

Other nationwide drone projects are being advertised in many shops and service stations across Ukraine as the government insists drones give its military a competitive advantage on the battlefield.

A Ukrainian soldier loads dummy grenades onto a drone for target practice, as members of the Ukrainian National Guard prepare for an expected spring counter-offensive against Russian invasion forces in the region of Dnipro, Ukraine.

A Ukrainian serviceman of the Adam tactical group operates a drone to spot Russian positions near the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on April 16, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Soldiers of the 24th Separate Assault Battalion named Aidar, also known as the Aidar Battalion, train with drones at an undetermined location in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on April 09, 2023.

Ukrainian servicemen from 24th brigadeâs drone team work near the frontlines of Toretsk, Ukraine on March 18, 2023.

In March, Ukraine's Ministry for Digital Transformation announced what it called "an important step for the development of the Ukrainian UAVmarket", relaxing the procedure for importing components for drones into Ukraine.