Up to 85% of Russia's killer drones reportedly shot down by Ukraine; at 8-month mark, Zelenskyy calls Russia a 'beggar': 

Ukraine's military is getting better at shooting down Iranian-made Russian drones – up to 85% of them are now being taken out, the British Defense Ministry reported, citing official sources.

The ministry said in its latest war assessment that Russia is likely using the drones as a substitute for Russian-manufactured, long-range precision weapons that are becoming increasingly scarce.

"Ukrainian efforts to defeat the Shahed-136 UAVs are increasingly successful," the ministry said Monday. "These UAVs are slow, noisy and fly at low altitudes" making them relatively easy targets, the ministry added.

The head of Ukraine’s intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, on Monday put the shoot-down rate for the estimated 330 Shahed drones that Russia had released through Saturday at about 70%. 

Budanov said Russia's military had ordered about 1,700 various types of drones, and a second batch of about 300 Shaheds is being rolled out.

“Terror with the use of ‘Shaheds' can actually last for a long time,” he told Ukraine Pravda. “Air defense is basically coping."

RUSSIAN FORCES COULD FACE 'ROUT':Russia could struggle to get frontline troops out of Kherson; US rejects Russian claim of Ukraine radioactive 'provocation'

Other developments:

►Residents of the southern city of Mykolaiv lined up for water and essential supplies as Ukrainian forces continued their advance on nearby Kherson.

►The war in Ukraine was a major topic of conversation Monday in a Vatican meeting between Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron.

►German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said rebuilding Ukraine will be a “task for a generation” that no country, donor, or international institution can manage alone.

►SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said he will allow Ukraine to continue using his Starlink satellites even if the Pentagon refuses to provide funding.