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Drones Strike Deep Into Russia’s Urals for First Time, Reaching 1,800 Km
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Long-range drones struck targets in Russia’s Ural region for the first time overnight on April 25, reaching the cities of Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk—more than 1,800 kilometers from Ukraine, according to regional governors and monitoring sources.
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According to Russian officials, including Sverdlovsk region governor Denis Pasler and Chelyabinsk region governor Alexey Teksler, air defense systems were activated following what authorities described as a drone attack on infrastructure.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense later claimed that 127 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across multiple regions overnight.
Attacks 1,800 km deep in Russia.
— Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) April 25, 2026
Ukrainian drones reached the Ural Mountains for the first time, covering a record distance – Sternenko
In Yekaterinburg, Russian electronic warfare guided a drone directly into an apartment building. Six people were injured.
Explosions were… pic.twitter.com/spFPctqptt
According to Astra and OSINT monitoring channel Exilenova+, explosions and air raid activity were reported in both cities, with potential targets including industrial and defense-related facilities.
In Yekaterinburg, local sources indicated that the attack may have been aimed at the “Vector” enterprise, a defense-linked manufacturer of radio and navigation equipment that is part of the Almaz-Antey concern and is under US and Ukrainian sanctions.
In Chelyabinsk, Russian Telegram channels and monitoring groups reported possible activity near the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and the Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators.
According to regional authorities, several individuals in Yekaterinburg sought medical assistance following the incident, while evacuations were carried out in parts of the city. In Chelyabinsk region, officials stated that there were no casualties or significant damage following what they described as an attempted strike on infrastructure.
Monitoring sources cited by Exilenova+ suggested that Ukrainian “Liutyi” long-range strike drones may have been used in the operation, with estimated flight distances ranging from 1,700 to over 2,000 kilometers depending on launch points.
The actual range may be higher, as straight-line measurements from Ukraine’s borders do not account for operational flight paths.
This marks the deepest confirmed drone reach into Russia’s interior during the full-scale war. Previous long-range strikes have targeted locations such as Orsk, approximately 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine, including a reported attack on the Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery in October 2025.
Earlier, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu acknowledged that the Ural region—long considered out of reach—has entered the “zone of direct threat” from Ukrainian strikes, stating that “no region of Russia can feel safe.”
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-8d2c62b714eaf0349b657a867b6f2ae2.jpg "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev shake hands during an official meeting in Baku, April 2026. (Source: Office of the President of Ukraine)")
