Ukrainian drone strikes hit Russian defensesdrone strikes hit Russian defenses and logistics
Ukraine has expanded its use of mid- and long-range drones to strike targets inside Russia and behind the front lines, according to reports published on May 19 and May 20.
The attacks have hit oil refineries, air defenses and supply networks, while Ukrainian commanders say they are helping slow Russia’s battlefield advances and raise the cost of the war.
Ukrainian Perspective
Ukrainian commanders describe the drone campaign as a way to weaken Russian air defenses, logistics and fuel supplies far from the front. They say the strikes are helping disrupt Russian advances and create openings for deeper attacks on military and energy targets.
Russian Perspective
From Russia’s side, the strikes add pressure on fuel infrastructure and battlefield support systems at a time when its ground offensive is already facing delays. The reported damage suggests Ukraine is reaching targets that were previously more difficult to hit.
- Ukraine has become one of the world’s most experienced users of combat drones since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
- Oil refineries are often hardened targets because attacks on them can affect both military supply and civilian fuel markets.
- Air defense systems are expensive to operate, and repeated drone raids can force armies to spend missiles on relatively cheap targets.
Russia-Ukraine War
Russia and Ukraine are locked in an retaliatory long-range drone and missile war that now strikes deep into both countries, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea, and major Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Dnipro. Ukrainian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on June 26, striking 12 Russian regions and hitting key energy targets, while Russia continues massive retaliatory bombardments that kill civilians and destroy infrastructure.
26 June, 09:41 AM
Ukraine unleashes massive drone bombardment on 12 Russian regions24 June, 10:31 AM
Ukrainian drones knock out power in Russian-held Sevastopol22 June, 03:20 PM
Ukraine strikes Russian missile electronics plant in Voronezh
