‘Fight Relentlessly’: Ukraine Commander Vows Strikes into Russia
AI Analysis
Ukraine is escalating long-range drone strikes targeting Russian oil facilities and defense infrastructure, enabled by a perceived weakening of Russian air defenses. Commander Brovdi indicates a deliberate strategy to degrade Russia’s war resources and retaliate for attacks on Ukraine. These strikes are increasingly reaching deeper into Russian territory, including areas previously considered secure.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine is systematically targeting Russian air defense systems to create corridors for deeper drone strikes.
- Russian air defenses are reportedly degraded, allowing for more unpredictable and successful attacks.
- Targets include defense industry and oil facilities, aiming to disrupt Russia’s war economy.
- Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) claims even the Moscow region is now vulnerable to drone attacks.
- Russia scaled down its Victory Day parade, citing the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes.
Why It Matters
The increasing effectiveness of Ukrainian drone strikes demonstrates the evolving nature of modern warfare and the vulnerability of even well-defended territories to asymmetric attacks. This capability allows Ukraine to exert pressure on Russia’s logistical and economic capabilities, potentially impacting the duration and intensity of the conflict. The success hinges on continued degradation of Russian air defenses and maintaining the element of surprise.
From his underground post, the commander of Ukraine’s unmanned forces, Robert Brovdi, known as “Madyar”, has been meticulously planning increasingly frequent strikes deep into Russian territory, which he sees as retribution for Russia’s invasion.
He gave a recent exclusive interview to AFP, before the latest wave of attacks, in which Kyiv launched nearly 600 drones over Russia and killed four people.
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
Ukraine’s deep strikes, Madyar and officials said, target defence industry and oil facilities to deprive Russia of the resources it needs to continue the war.
“The sources of funding for Putin’s war expenses... have become legitimate and priority military targets in any area, in any part of the territory of the occupying country, whether we are talking about the south, the Urals, or Siberia,” he said.
Ukraine has struck deeper and more regularly into Russian territory in recent months.
Kyiv says attacks across Russian territory, including on Tuapse and Primorsk, have inflicted billions in losses, with Russian authorities reporting some casualties.
Madyar said Ukraine’s expanded strikes inside Russian territory were driven by several factors -- more resources, a strategic shift and the gradual dismantling of Russian air-defence systems.
“The enemy built a wall consisting of many elements of air defence... we had to cut a door open to get through,” he said.
His forces systematically prioritised targeting Russian air defence starting in December 2025, he said.
There was still a long way to go before destroying the entire air-defence network, but effects are starting to be felt, he added.
“We realised that there isn’t that much air defence left to destroy to gain access deep into the territory,” he said.
“The territory is so vast, and there are so many sensitive targets within it, that the enemy cannot predict where we will fly tomorrow,” Madyar said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had the right to launch retaliatory strikes at Russia after a massive Russian attack on Kyiv earlier this week killed 24 people.
On Saturday night, AFP journalists witnessed long-range drones being launched toward Russia, in what turned out to be one of the largest barrages of the conflict.
Battalion members prepared the drones in pitch dark, illuminated only by red torches.
The drones, resembling small planes, flew off, leaving trails of fire behind them.
The strikes showed that “even the heavily protected Moscow region is not safe”, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said.
The threat of attacks has rattled Russia.
Moscow was forced to scale down its May 9th Victory Day parade, usually marked by a grand military show.
This year’s celebrations featured no military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades.
Moscow also warned Kyiv residents of a possible retaliatory strike if Ukraine targeted the event, before US President Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire would take effect, alongside a planned exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war from each side.
“Is a dramatic image of possible explosions in the heart of the war, in the centre of Moscow, worth more than a thousand lives saved?” Madyar asked rhetorically.
“Is it worth risking our relationship with the Americans?”
Delaying attacks by a few days made no difference, he said.
And he vowed to “fight relentlessly” with further strikes that would catch Moscow by surprise.
“The element of surprise is like those children’s toys with a shooting gallery, a little hammer, and a bunny that pops up in different windows... you have to be quick enough to catch it.”