“No longer a peaceful rear”: Ukraine reports 1,150% increase in deep strikes as drones continue hitting Russia’s war machine far from the front lines

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) said they have increased successful strikes deep inside Russian-held territory by 1,150% since the beginning of 2026, as Kyiv continues expanding its long-range drone campaign against Russia's military and industrial infrastructure.

According to the force's June operational summary, Ukrainian drone operators carried out 2,359 deep-strike missions targeting sites 500-2,000 kilometers behind the front line, damaging 172 military-industrial and fuel-energy facilities during the month.

Deep-strike campaign expands

The SBS said its operators also flew 3,406 middle-range strike missions (150-300 km), hitting or destroying 1,682 targets, and 2,747 front-line strike missions (25-150 km), destroying or damaging another 1,265 targets.

Priority targets included Russia's defense industry, fuel and energy infrastructure, logistics hubs, fuel and ammunition depots, command posts, military equipment, and troop concentrations. The force said occupied Crimea remains a separate, sustained focus of the campaign.

Oil refineries, naval bases among targets

The military said Ukrainian forces struck 172 military-industrial and fuel-energy facilities in June alone in coordination with other branches of Ukraine's Defense Forces.

Among the targets listed were the Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant; the Ilsky, Afipsky, Novokuibyshevsk, Moscow, Slavyansk, and Lukoil Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refineries; multiple oil depots and fuel terminals; the Port Kavkaz transport hub; defense industry facilities; naval infrastructure in Kronstadt, including the Russian Navy's 15th Arsenal and the Boikiy corvette; and several Russian space communications centers.

"No safe rear"

"The facts speak for themselves: in 2026, our drones have brought the painful effects of war onto the occupier's territory. There is no longer a peaceful rear across the European part of Russia," Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi said.

The military said sustained attacks on Russia's industrial, logistical, and military infrastructure are intended to reduce Moscow's ability to supply its forces and sustain its war against Ukraine.

Ukraine has steadily expanded its long-range drone campaign over the past year, increasingly striking oil refineries, ammunition depots, airbases, defense factories, and logistics hubs hundreds or even thousands of kilometers from the front line in an effort to erode Russia's military and economic capacity.