Ukraine's long-range drones devastate Russian infrastructure - HUR officer

Long-range drones have become a critical tool in targeting Russia’s military infrastructure deep within its territory. Recent operations have demonstrated their effectiveness, with strikes causing significant damage to strategic sites, including an oil depot supporting Russia’s war efforts.

“Preparation takes place in several stages," Ukraine’s long-range UAV operators commander explained.

"First, we analyze the targets, assess the feasibility of reaching them, and study the enemy's air defense and electronic warfare systems to find corridors for successful strikes. Over the past year, this has become incredibly challenging, but we still manage to do so.”

The long-range drones can carry up to 75 kilograms of explosives.

The use of attack drones has undergone significant advancements during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, HUR representative added.

“Our team was the first to launch nearly all long-range drones and their predecessors. We can see the progress—now we can hit targets at 2,000 kilometers,” he said.

On Nov. 9, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian drones had hit over 52,000 Russian targets in October 2024, destroying 129 artillery systems, 221 pieces of radio equipment, and killing more than 4,000 Russian soldiers.

On Nov. 25, Ukrainian Defense Forces confirmed that HUR drones successfully struck the Kaluganefetprodukt oil depot, which supports Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.

The strike resulted in multiple explosions and a fire at the facility. Witness footage revealed the failure of Russian air defenses to intercept the drones, which hit their targets one after another, causing widespread destruction.