Ukraine ramps up long-range drone strikes on Russian soil, calls it 'punishment by drone'

On an agricultural field in eastern Ukraine, the roar of engines shattered the stillness of a summer night. In the darkness, a drone roughly the size of a small SUV, with a wingspan of nearly six meters, soared into the sky. Its final destination was known only to the unit commander.

This was one of hundreds of long-range drones Ukraine launched in a single night, according to Colonel Ray, commander of the Kairos Battalion of the Magyars Birds Brigade. 'Like an orchestra, every part must work in harmony for us to achieve effective strikes,' he said.

The drone travels at about 160 km/h at an altitude of several thousand meters, flying over shelled cities and battlefields along the front line. Once it reaches cruising altitude, control is handed over to a command center elsewhere in Ukraine. A brigade representative said the drone is guided by satellite systems and 'can be controlled from Pennsylvania once it is airborne'.

Along the route, the drone avoids residential areas where it might be intercepted. Data on Russian air defenses is relayed to planners, giving hundreds of drones the best chance of breaking through.

In recent times, Ukraine's long-range drones have struck targets more than 2,500 km inside Russian territory, reaching Moscow, St Petersburg, beyond the Ural Mountains, and even into Siberia. Targets include oil refineries, factories, and warehouses.

Changing scale

Long-range drones are not new to the conflict, but the scale of their use has changed markedly. Ukraine now produces hundreds of one-way attack drones domestically, reducing constraints from Western partners that previously prevented Kyiv from striking deep into Russia.

When Ukraine began ramping up strikes in March, some Western allies called for restraint. However, Kyiv pressed on. Ukrainian officials describe the strikes as 'long-range punishment', a play on words meaning Kyiv is using drones to enforce the economic pressure that Western sanctions have failed to achieve.

The rationale is that Russia's oil and gas industry remains a crucial revenue source for the state, accounting for about one-fifth of total federal budget revenue. Recently, Ukraine's long-range campaign has expanded beyond oil and gas.

Among the targets is Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer. Ukraine accuses the marketplace of being used to sell dual-use goods, including body armor, military helmets, drone components, and fiber-optic cables used in drones that kill Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, told Al Jazeera that '30% of dual-use or military goods are bought and sold through the Wildberries platform by the Russian Defense Ministry'. He said the strikes have three goals: 'First, to sow fear. Second, to cause losses – business losses, revenue, goods. Third, to make Russians feel the reality of war.'

Endurance race

Back at the launch site, soldiers quickly packed up. Six drones were launched within about five minutes. Each launch flare could expose their position to Russian reconnaissance aircraft. For teams responsible for an operation increasingly penetrating Russian territory, concealment is vital.

Colonel Ray described the war as a boxing match: 'In the first ten rounds, professionalism is key. But in the final two rounds, spirit also decides.'

He said the success of deep strikes has significantly improved the morale of many in the military. As the war drags on, it increasingly becomes an endurance race. 'In the end, there is only one question: why are we doing this? I think Russians still don't know what they are fighting for. But our soldiers understand – because we are protecting our people and our land.'