Drones have range of 1,750 kilometers: Ukraine increases its deep-strike range against Russia by 2.5 times

Ukrainian long-range systems can strike military targets deep within Russian territory at approximately 1,750 km; since 2022, the range has increased by more than 2.5 times.

According to Ukrinform, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported this.

It is noted that "since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have increased the range of deep strikes against the aggressor's deep rear by more than 2.5 times. While in 2022 it was possible to strike a military target approximately 630 km away, Ukrainian long-range weapons are now successfully destroying the enemy's military equipment at a distance of about 1,750 km."

The Ministry of Defense highlighted Ukraine's significant deep strikes against Russia and explained why developing the country's long-range capabilities is crucial.

In December 2022, Ukraine struck the Engels-2 Air Base in the Saratov region—one of the key airfields for Russian strategic aviation. As a result of the attack, two Tu-95MS bombers capable of carrying cruise missiles were damaged.

To strike this strategic target, Ukrainian deep strike assets traveled approximately 650 km—a record distance during the first year of the full-scale invasion.

As noted by the Ministry of Defense, the Defense Forces' greatest "long-range" success was one of Russia's most high-profile failures in air defense in 2022.

At the same time, the Dyagilevo Air Base in the Ryazan region of the Russian Federation (500–600 km) was struck.

In 2024, Ukraine expanded the range of its long-range strikes to include several strategic regions of the Russian Federation.

• On April 2, a factory producing Shahed-type drones in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone (1,200 km) was attacked for the first time;
• On May 9, the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery (1,500 km) was struck.

"In other words, 2024 became the year when Ukraine began transitioning to systematic long-range strikes against targets of the Russian Federation's military machine," the Ministry of Defense noted.

In February 2026, units of the Security Service of Ukraine and other components of the Defense Forces struck the Ukhta Oil Refinery in the Komi Republic. This facility is located approximately 1,750 km from the state border.

The Ministry of Defense noted that in 2026, the Defense Forces will continue to systematically strike both in the immediate and deep rear to force Russia to make peace. In particular, in Ufa, approximately 1,400 km away, the Bashneft-Novoyl and Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim refineries were struck.

In March, five strategic plants and 10 oil refining facilities in Russia were struck. The operations covered an area stretching from the temporarily occupied Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions to deep rear areas of the Russian Federation, including the Leningrad region.

The Ministry of Defense cites President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that deep-strike capabilities are among Ukraine's defense priorities.

"Today, our deep strikes are no longer a sensation, although each time it is very welcome and very good news. Today, our Ukrainian drones have radically changed approaches to waging war," the head of state noted, emphasizing that Ukraine has achieved a high level of proficiency in the production and use of missiles.

According to the president, Russia's losses from long-range strikes are extremely significant.

"Undoubtedly, we are targeting what hurts Russia the most. And it hurts a lot. We can see the results. Today, their losses are already in the tens of billions. These are critical losses for Russia," the president noted.

Read also: General Staff confirms another strike on Tuapse Refinery

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov noted that "peace in Ukraine will come when the airspace is protected, the Russian army loses its offensive potential, and the Russian economy cannot withstand the strain."

"We are working every day to make this happen. So that every day of the war becomes a threat to Russia's existence," Fedorov emphasized.

As reported by Ukrinform, Serhii Sternenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense on improving the effectiveness of drone use on the front lines, said Ukrainian drones have reached the Urals for the first time, covering a record distance.

Photo: Ministry of Defense