Ukraine aims drones at oil refinery and drone factory in deepest strike yet inside Russia

Ukrainian drone developers have been working to extend the range of their weapons for months, aiming to offset the disadvantage in weapons and troops on the battlefield. These unmanned aerial vehicles provide a cost-effective option while Ukraine awaits more military aid from the US.

Currently, neither side has the capability to significantly impact the roughly 1,000km (620-mile) front line.

Ukrainian security and intelligence officials have reported targeting a drone production site in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, using long-range drones produced in Ukraine. Tatarstan, known for its industrialization, reportedly has a factory near Yelabuga that builds Iranian-designed Shahed exploding drones.

The officials also mentioned intelligence services being involved in an overnight attack on the Nizhnekamsk oil refinery.

These officials spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to comment publicly. This was a rare acknowledgement of responsibility, as Kyiv officials typically refrain from commenting on attacks on Russian soil. The claims could not be independently verified by the Associated Press.

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Russia has frequently used Shahed drones in aerial attacks on Ukraine, sometimes launching large barrages of up to 90 drones to overwhelm air defenses.

Officials from Tatarstan stated that the attack did not disrupt industrial production, and the mayor of Nizhnekamsk mentioned that air defenses thwarted the attempt to strike the refinery.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu accused Kyiv of trying to divert attention from its military setbacks by targeting Russian territory, aiming to show its Western sponsors that it can still confront the Russian military.

During a meeting with top military officials, Shoigu claimed that Russian troops have gained over 400 sq km (155 square miles) since the beginning of the year.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian military is working to strengthen defenses against such attacks, aiming to minimize and eventually eliminate the threat.

Previous drone attacks by Ukraine targeted St Petersburg, approximately 1,000km (620 miles) north of the border. However, the facilities in Tatarstan, a region on the Volga River, seem to be the farthest target Ukraine has attempted to hit.

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously mentioned that Ukraine had developed a weapon capable of hitting a target 700km (400 miles) away, likely referring to a drone attack on Russian soil.

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Last year, Ukraine’s minister for digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, stated that the government is focused on building a cutting-edge “army of drones,” with the impact on the war effort expected to be evident by the end of the year. More than 10,000 new drone pilots were trained in Ukraine last year.

Ukraine has also developed lethal sea drones that have targeted Russian navy ships in the Black Sea, causing embarrassment to the Kremlin. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed new navy chiefs to strengthen the naval forces.

Additionally, Ukraine’s air force intercepted nine out of ten Shahed drones launched by Russia in a recent attack on the country’s power grid. These attacks have resulted in civilian casualties.

According to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, the war has claimed over 10,500 Ukrainian civilian lives and left more than 20,000 injured. The conflict is becoming entrenched and protracted, with recurring waves of attacks across the country.