Ukrainian military forces are dealing significant setbacks to Russia’s war operations through an expanded strategy of medium-range drone strikes that target enemy positions dozens of kilometers from the front lines.
Military commanders and defense experts report that Ukraine has dramatically increased its “middle strikes” capability in recent months, focusing on targets positioned 30 to 180 kilometers behind enemy lines. These operations are disrupting Russian battlefield progress and creating openings for extended-range attacks on oil and military installations.
The enhanced drone operations have allowed Ukrainian forces to hit Russian radar systems, air defense networks, communication infrastructure, supply chains, and heavy military equipment at what military experts call “operational depth,” according to two Ukrainian commanders, drone specialists, and military analysts.
Robert Brovdi, who leads Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, explained that long-range attack drones can now penetrate Russian defenses more effectively to strike oil installations far from the fighting zones.
“The role of middle strikes is currently decisive,” Brovdi stated in a voice message to Reuters, discussing operations reaching up to 2,000 kilometers.
Defense experts acknowledge that while these attacks cannot single-handedly reverse the war’s trajectory, they are creating substantial impact and potentially altering the conflict’s momentum.
Over recent months, Ukrainian long-distance drone operations have inflicted the most severe damage to Russian oil infrastructure since Moscow launched its 2022 invasion. Last month, Russia decreased oil production due to drone strikes on ports and refineries, and crude oil deliveries through Russia’s sole remaining European pipeline were stopped.
These attacks have boosted Ukrainian morale following a winter of Russian strikes on power infrastructure, while Russia’s territorial advancement rate has dropped to its lowest level since 2023.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced this month that Ukrainian “middle strikes” had doubled compared to March and increased fourfold since February.
A field commander identified as “Kusto” from the 7th battalion of Brovdi’s 414th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade reported significant growth in Ukraine’s medium-strike capabilities since autumn.
“We have scaled up, increased the number of crews, and expanded the number of systems in use. There is also greater diversity in the available platforms,” he explained in written statements.
Kusto’s unit primarily focuses on objectives within 100 kilometers of the contact line, with Russian radar installations and air-defense systems including Buk, Tor and Pantsir representing the most valuable targets. Additional priority targets include large vehicles and logistics operations.
“The aircraft (drone) itself typically flies about 150 kilometres from the launch point and then begins searching for targets in the designated area,” he described.
The unit most frequently employs domestically manufactured Chaklun V drones for middle-strike operations, followed by the B-2 model.
Brovdi noted that manual control provides superior precision compared to coordinate-based guidance, with typically no more than three drones required to confirm target destruction.
His forces have eliminated at least 129 air-defense systems this year in Russian-controlled territories, though Reuters could not independently confirm this number.
Ukraine has conducted multiple attacks on oil facilities in the Russian Black Sea port city of Tuapse, and Brovdi announced Friday that his forces had struck the Ryazan oil refinery, among Russia’s largest. Ukrainian operations have also forced operational suspensions at NORSI, Russia’s fourth-largest refinery, and facilities in Perm, approximately 1,500 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border.
The extended-range strikes have facilitated more medium-range attacks by compelling Russia to spread air defenses away from front-line positions, explained Justin Bronk, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London.
This allows Ukrainian forces to target assets beyond artillery or remotely operated First-Person View drone range, including ammunition and fuel storage, command centers, supply vehicles and other medium-range drone teams.
In April, Ukrainian forces executed over 160 middle strikes at distances of 120-150 kilometers, according to the Defence Ministry.
Such operations hinder Russian battlefield activities by extending the gap between front-line troops and their support forces, said Illia Mashyna, commander of Ukraine’s 431st Separate Unmanned Aircraft Systems Battalion “Brodiahy.”
“The farther you pull back, the more you complicate logistics,” Mashyna emphasized, highlighting the importance of thorough planning and consistent coordination for operational effectiveness.
The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia’s battlefield progress has decelerated since October, partially due to medium-range strikes but also because of local fortifications and terrain challenges, particularly in the Donbas region.
Russian forces have also encountered communication difficulties since tech billionaire Elon Musk restricted their access to the Starlink satellite internet service.
RUSI’s Bronk explained that Kyiv’s rapid medium-range capability development addressed a critical gap, as Russia pressured Ukraine’s outnumbered and outgunned forces while also effectively employing middle strikes.
Continuous battlefield deployment has accelerated innovation as Ukraine works to strengthen domestic defense production and reduce dependence on foreign supplies.
Direct communication between manufacturers and front-line operators means user feedback gets incorporated into drone systems within days, Kusto reported.
A technical engineer in Kusto’s unit, using the call sign “Symbol,” said some manufacturers now provide platforms that arrive nearly combat-ready, requiring minimal additional programming.
“Previously, middle strike was more of a one-off capability,” he noted in written comments. “Now it’s a systematic part of operations.”
Emil Kastehelmi from the Finland-based Black Bird conflict analysis group said medium-range attacks may not reverse the tide against Russia but present a challenge requiring Russian force adaptation.
“And I don’t think we’ve seen the pinnacle of it yet,” he concluded.
