1. Overview
Since 2025, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have systematically increased the frequency and scale of long-range drone attacks targeting military facilities and enterprises supporting Russian military operations. A notable example includes multiple airstrikes on the Kristall oil storage facility in Engels, Saratov. The attack on January 13 was concentrated in southwestern Russia, causing fires at the Bryansk chemical plant—responsible for producing rocket fuel and ammunition for the Russian military—and destroying two Russian air defense systems, the Tor and Buk. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties.
This development underscores the ability of large-scale long-range drone attacks to penetrate deep into adversary territory, inflicting significant damage on key military infrastructure and industrial support networks. Although individual drone strikes may have limited destructive capacity due to payload constraints, systematic, large-scale, and sustained attacks can exacerbate damage, force defensive resource allocation to protect critical infrastructure, and increase logistical pressures, ultimately impacting overall combat operations.
The specific drone models used in these continuous attacks remain uncertain. However, given Ukraine’s current drone capabilities, the Liutyi, UJ-22, and UJ-26 drones—all featuring long-range flight capability and approximately 50 kg payload capacity—are likely candidates.
2. Potential Long-Range Attack Drones
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Ukraine launched over 140 drones in a recent wave of attacks. Considering the capabilities of the Liutyi drone—a long-range attack UAV capable of striking targets up to 1,000 km away—it is likely that this model played a primary role. Following its high-profile attack on a major refinery in Saint Petersburg, demand for the Liutyi has surged, further supporting its potential use in sustained systematic offensives.
Additionally, Ukraine’s Ukrjet Aerospace Company has developed the UJ-22 and UJ-26 drones. These winged UAVs can autonomously fly up to 800 km or be pilot-controlled, making them viable for precision bombing and long-range attacks on static targets.
The Liutyi drone, in particular, possesses several advantageous characteristics:
- Cost-effectiveness: Each unit is valued at approximately $200,000, making it a relatively inexpensive long-range strike asset.
- Aerodynamic efficiency: Resembling the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 in design, its streamlined fuselage and tail assembly enhance fuel efficiency and flight performance.
- Lightweight construction: Built primarily from fiberglass, the drone can carry a 50 kg warhead.
- Advanced guidance systems: Equipped with a hybrid guidance system, the Liutyi demonstrates high autonomy and targeting accuracy.
- Modular transportability: Its independent modular design allows for rapid disassembly, transport, and reassembly in various operational scenarios.
The effectiveness of the Liutyi has been demonstrated through repeated strikes on Russian refineries, fuel depots, helicopter bases, and other strategic assets. These attacks suggest that the drone likely features robust electronic countermeasure resistance and alternative communication and targeting channels.
3. Deployment Strategies
Ukraine, with limited military resources and insufficient stockpiles of long-range missiles, has leveraged cost-effective long-range drones to compensate for its cruise missile capability gap. Although operational details of these strikes remain classified, analysis of Ukrainian strategic objectives and available information suggests two primary deployment tactics:
(1) Swarm Attacks Ukrainian forces may deploy multiple drones, such as dozens of Liutyi UAVs, to target a single objective. These attacks may involve either sequential waves or simultaneous mass strikes. Given the warheads’ fragmentation effect—enhanced by an external blade-like structure—the cumulative damage potential remains significant, increasing the likelihood of inflicting severe destruction on Russian strategic assets. This approach enhances Ukraine’s ability to disrupt Russian rear-area infrastructure while maintaining a favorable cost-effectiveness ratio.
(2) Decoy Attacks Ukraine may also integrate Liutyi drones with U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) strikes. A potential tactic involves launching waves of drones from multiple directions and in staggered formations to overwhelm and saturate Russian air defense systems, disrupting radar detection patterns and response times. As Russian defenses become preoccupied, Ukraine could then launch ATACMS missiles against high-value targets, maximizing the effectiveness of its precision strikes.
4. Conclusion
The increasing sophistication and scale of Ukraine’s long-range drone operations illustrate the evolving role of unmanned systems in modern warfare. The ability to conduct sustained deep penetration strikes challenges traditional defensive postures, compelling adversaries to divert significant resources toward infrastructure protection. Furthermore, the demonstrated adaptability of Ukrainian forces in integrating low-cost UAVs into their strategic calculus highlights a growing trend toward asymmetric and networked warfare.
As the conflict progresses, it is imperative to monitor further advancements in drone capabilities, counter-drone technologies, and evolving tactics to assess the future trajectory of unmanned warfare in high-intensity conflicts.
