HERE WE GO AGAIN: UKRAINE’S LONG-RANGE DRONES RETURN TO RUSSIA IN FORCE
Another wave of Ukrainian long-range drones has entered Russian airspace, with preliminary flight paths showing a broad, multi-directional operation stretching across western and southern Russia.
If the reported trajectories are accurate, the operation isn’t aimed at a single target. Instead, it appears designed to force Russia to defend multiple regions simultaneously, complicating interception efforts and stretching air defense resources.
Over the past several nights, Ukraine has already demonstrated what this strategy looks like in practice.
Drone strikes have reportedly hit or targeted:
* Volgograd – including one of Russia’s largest oil refineries and a Wildberries logistics hub.
* Tatarstan – with reported attacks around Zelenodolsk and the industrial hub of Nizhnekamsk, home to major refining and petrochemical facilities.
* Ryazan – another critical refining center targeted in recent operations.
* Multiple Wildberries logistics centers, continuing Ukraine’s campaign against distribution infrastructure it says supports Russia’s war effort.
Looking at the map, many of the drones appear to fan out after crossing the border rather than following a single corridor. That kind of dispersion can force Russian defenders to make difficult decisions about where to position interceptors, electronic warfare systems, and fighter aircraft. It’s important to note, however, that these published trajectory maps are approximate reconstructions based on public reports, not official flight data.
What is becoming increasingly clear is the tempo.
These are no longer isolated, once-a-week deep strikes.
Ukraine has maintained pressure for consecutive nights, repeatedly targeting oil refining, logistics, warehousing, and industrial infrastructure.
The objective appears to be cumulative: every refinery temporarily shut down, every warehouse damaged, and every air defense battery tied up protecting rear areas imposes another cost on Russia’s ability to sustain the war.