June 27, 2026

Ukraine ramps up production of long-range drones

Massive Ukrainian drone attacks are overwhelming Russia’s air defense system and have already disabled about 20% of the country’s oil refining capacity, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Effectiveness of long-range strikes

The increasing number and improved technological capabilities of Ukrainian drones have significantly boosted the effectiveness of deep-strike attacks in enemy territory. Only in June, about 35% of all verified successful strikes inside Russia this year took place.

The scale of Russia’s territory, once considered a defensive advantage, now complicates infrastructure protection, as air defense systems must cover both an extensive front line and remote facilities.

To penetrate defenses, Ukrainian forces are using a strategy of attrition.

The first waves of drones identify the positions of air defense systems, allowing subsequent drones to find safer routes.

Russian Pantsir systems can engage no more than four targets simultaneously, meaning large drone formations can simply overload the system.

“We just used a big bunch of drones, and they overwhelmed Russian air defense systems,” said Fire Point chief designer Denys Shtilerman.

According to him, domestically produced drones and missiles take part in 8–10 missions daily on Russian territory and in occupied parts of Ukraine.

The most significant political damage to the Kremlin comes from strikes on Moscow and occupied Crimea, where successful attacks on ferries, bridges, and fuel depots have forced the occupation authorities to suspend fuel sales to private individuals.

Expansion of production

Ukraine plans to produce more than seven million drones this year, compared to over two million in 2024. Most of them will be short-range frontline drones, while production of long-range systems is also being scaled up in parallel.

Defense manufacturers aim to reach a production rate of up to 300 long-range drones per day capable of traveling significant distances.

In addition, domestically produced Neptune and Flamingo cruise missiles are increasingly used to strike fortified targets and bunkers. They carry larger warheads compared to drones and are significantly harder for Russian air defense systems to intercept.

On the morning of Saturday, June 27, another attack on Russia’s defense industry in Volgograd was reported, where a facility producing launchers for Iskander-M ballistic missiles came under strike. Earlier that week, on June 22, explosions were also reported in Voronezh, where Ukrainian forces reportedly struck the Voronezh Semiconductor Devices Plant Sborka (VZPP-S).

Against the backdrop of the growing effectiveness of Ukrainian long-range strike systems, the development of its own missile capabilities remains a priority. As Russian ballistic missiles continue to pose a persistent threat to both the rear and frontline, Ukraine is actively studying international experience in developing and scaling similar weapons in order to build its own ballistic program. For more on what Ukraine’s defense industry can learn, read the full analysis by RBC-Ukraine journalist Roman Kot.

https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukrainian-drones-penetrate-russian-air-defenses-1782546107.html