WSJ: Ukraine expands long-range drone campaign against Russian oil infrastructure

Ukraine has significantly expanded its long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure this year, aided by increased production of advanced drones and domestically developed cruise missiles,  defence industry officials told The Wall Street Journal.

Ukraine's growing arsenal of long-range weapons has enabled it to target oil refineries and other strategic facilities deeper inside Russian territory, including sites near Moscow.

Denys Shtylerman, head designer at Ukrainian defence manufacturer Fire Point, said the success of a recent attack on an oil refinery near the Russian capital was due to the use of a large number of drones that overwhelmed Russian air defences. He said more of the drones penetrated the defences than his team had expected.

The WSJ noted that Ukraine had previously faced shortages of long-range drones, limiting its ability to conduct deep strikes. However, production has increased substantially this year, with newer systems featuring improved technology and longer range. Ukrainian forces have also begun deploying domestically produced cruise missiles.

Attacks on more than two dozen Russian oil refineries since March have temporarily disabled about 20% of Russia's oil refining capacity.

Military analyst Michael Kofman said the effectiveness of Ukrainian strikes had improved because of technological advances and the ability to launch larger-scale operations. He added that Russia's vast territory, once considered a strategic advantage, now makes it increasingly difficult to provide comprehensive air defence coverage.

Data from defence intelligence firm Jane's shows that about 35% of all confirmed successful Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory this year occurred in June.

Ukrainian forces are increasingly using tactics similar to those employed by Russia, including launching drones in large groups to saturate air defence systems. Ukraine is also seeking routes that allow drones and missiles to avoid heavily defended areas.

Experts believe Russian electronic warfare systems have struggled to counter newer generations of drones because they were primarily designed to defend against conventional aircraft and missiles. Analysts expect the geographical reach of Ukraine's long-range strike campaign to continue expanding.

By Sabina Mammadli