Ukrainian Drones Penetrate 1800 km Deep into Russia. A Look Inside the Boldest Operations

After the Soviet Union’s collapse and Ukrainian officials’ decisions in the early years of independence, Ukraine lost its long-range missiles. The need for such weapons became urgent after 2014, following Russian aggression. By the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the need for long-range weaponry became critical as Russian military airfields, bases, and production facilities stayed out of reach.

Securing long-range missiles from partners and eventually deploying them against Russian territory took time. The breakthrough came with long-range drones, which began targeting Russian soil in 2022. On September 12, 2024, Ukrainian drones struck the Olenya air base in Russia, home to Tu-22M3 bombers. While the drones’ technical details remain confidential, it is known that Olenya is 1800 km from the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian drones first achieved such distances in the summer of 2024, when the same airfield was attacked in July. The Olenya airfield is a significant target for Ukraine, as it houses one-third of Russia's strategic aviation, which is used to bomb Ukrainian civilian cities.

Ukrainian drones reportedly struck the Russian radar system "Voronezh-DM” in May 2024.  One of these stations is located in the Orenburg region, 1500 km from the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian drones hit two other Voronezh-DM radars in the Krasnodar region. These systems were designed to detect potential missile attacks, including ballistic ones. Although the extent of the damage remains unknown, reports indicate that 50% of similar systems in Russia were affected. Ukraine demonstrated once again that it is unafraid of crossing red lines.

To reduce threats to Ukrainian cities, Ukraine struck the “Alabuga” plant in Russia’s Tatarstan, which makes Shahed drones under an Iranian license. In August 2024 alone, Russia launched around 800 of these drones at Ukrainian energy infrastructure and cities. Despite being over 1200 km away, the plant was targeted for its role in fueling Russia’s drone attacks.

Attacks on distant Russian military airfields started in late 2022, coinciding with Russia’s heavy shelling of Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukrainian intelligence shifted focus from just missiles to the aircraft launching them. By December 2022, Ukrainian drones had struck the Engels airfield in the Saratov region (630 km away) and the Dyagilevo airfield in Ryazan (over 470 km away).

Ukrainian drones also attacked a military airfield in South Ossetia. The Ukrainian drone "Lyutyi" covered a distance of 700 to 800 km. Reports indicate that three drones were launched, with only one reaching its target.

Ukraine has also targeted Russian oil refineries, some over 1000 km from the Ukrainian border. In May 2024, the “Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat” refinery in Bashkortostan, 1400 km away, was attacked. This strike marked one of the longest drone flights by a Ukrainian drone, though the specific model and technical details remain unknown.

Earlier, in January 2024, a Ukrainian drone hit an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, covering a distance of about 900-950 km.

In April 2024, Ukraine attacked the "Taneko" oil refinery in Tatarstan. Remarkably, Ukraine launched drones at two different targets in a Russian region over 1200 km from the border. This demonstrates advanced technology and precision, not just coincidence.

Another long-range strike targeted the Kirov region and the Zenit oil depot. Ukrainian drones managed to penetrate over 1200 km from the border and hit Russian infrastructure.

Increased long-range capabilities

Ukraine has proven its capability to strike deep within Russian Federation territory, hitting targets nearly 2000 km away. This achievement is significant: despite Russia’s robust air defense system, its military appears unable to protect itself fully. It’s possible Russia was never tested against such attacks before. Such military operations are the first to target military sites across Russian territory since World War II.

Recently, Ukrainian production of long-range drones with hundreds of kilometers of range has surged. In August alone, Russian officials reported the downing of nearly 300 Ukrainian drones across 15 regions. The exact number of drones launched is not known.

Ukraine can significantly increase drone production if it receives financial support from partners. The country is prepared to produce up to 2 million drones and UAVs of various types, with funding being the only obstacle, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.