Inside Ukraine’s expanding drone war against Russian infrastructure — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union
AI Analysis
Ukraine has intensified its drone warfare against Russian infrastructure, targeting oil and gas facilities to disrupt exports and strain Russia's air defenses. The mass production of inexpensive, long-range drones has enabled Ukraine to conduct these operations effectively.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine launched drone strikes on Russian Baltic ports and oil terminals in late March and early April.
- The strikes aim to disrupt Russia's petroleum export capacity and deplete its missile defense stockpiles.
- Ukraine's drones are mass-produced, inexpensive, and have a range of up to 1,500km.
- Drone manufacturing is decentralized, with potential production outside Ukraine and final assembly in disguised facilities.
- The AFU's enhanced drone capabilities are intended to influence media narratives and demonstrate military strength.
Why It Matters
The strategic use of drones by Ukraine highlights a shift in modern warfare tactics, emphasizing the importance of cost-effective, long-range unmanned systems. This approach challenges traditional air defense systems and could lead to significant economic and military implications for Russia, potentially altering the balance of power in the region.
Inside Ukraine’s expanding drone war against Russian infrastructure — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union
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Inside Ukraine’s expanding drone war against Russian infrastructure
Mass production, long-range strikes, and evolving tactics are reshaping the battlefield – and forcing a rethink of air defense strategies
© RT
In late March and early April, Ukraine launched a series of drone strikes against the Baltic ports in Ust-Luga and Primorsk, as well as oil terminals on the south of the country in the city of Novorossiysk. This was clearly an attempt to disrupt Russia’s ability to export petroleum products. Additionally, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have targeted other Russian regions to inflict further damage to the oil and gas industry and strain Russia’s air defense network tasked with protecting critical infrastructure.
Given the current global situation, increasing exports of petroleum products would provide Russia with much-needed revenue. This income could help offset losses from Western sanctions and stabilize economic growth. Of course, these additional revenues would also benefit Russia’s military-industrial complex, a fact that Kiev is undoubtedly aware of.
Ukraine’s intensified strikes on Russian oil and gas infrastructure, particularly export terminals, aim to reduce Russia’s export capacity. A secondary goal may be to influence the media narrative by demonstrating the AFU’s enhanced strike capabilities. The third objective involves depleting the missile stockpiles of Russia’s missile defense systems through massive drone attacks.
Read more Drones over Russia: Is there an effective defense?
But how exactly are these drones reaching targets deep inside Russia – and what does this mean for the future of air defense?
Routes, tactics, and technological edge
In March 2026, the AFU set a record for long-range drone usage. According to Western sources, Ukraine deployed over 7,000 drones. This has been possible due to the mass production of relatively inexpensive drones of various types, with a range of up to 1,500km. Notably, the cost of these drones is quite low, and Ukraine faces no shortage of components, as sanctions and other restrictions do not hinder this supply chain. Drone manufacturing can be decentralized, with some production potentially taking place outside Ukraine. Final assembly likely occurs in several facilities in various locations, disguised as ordinary manufacturing or logistics centers. Clearly, the mass production of drones is a major state industrial effort t