Main points
- President Zelenskyy announced an increase in Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russia, with a particular focus on long-range systems.
- Ukraine has already launched strikes in the Urals, resulting in significant losses for Russia, including the downing of military aircraft and reduced oil revenues.
Zelensky announced the strengthening of the direction of long-range strikes / Collage of Channel 24
The President of Ukraine announced increased attacks on Russia. Particular emphasis is placed on long-range strikes.
This was announced by President Zelensky in his traditional evening address to Ukrainians on May 1.
What did Zelensky say about the strikes on Russia?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine is preparing a significant strengthening of the direction of our so-called “long-range sanctions” – Ukrainian long-range systems.
There will be solutions. There will be solutions on military education, too.
– the president said.
He did not specify what exactly the head of state meant. However, Ukrainian attacks on Russia have intensified recently.
It is worth noting! Ukrainian UAVs have already reached the Urals. This first happened on April 25. After this attack, Russian propagandists began to complain that Russian air defenses were unable to shoot down the drones during their 10-hour flight. In total, the distance from Ukraine to the Urals is over 1,800 kilometers.
The forces of unmanned systems then struck Russian Su-57 and Su-34 aircraft at the Shagol airfield in the Chelyabinsk region.
How do long-range strikes affect the enemy?
As Volodymyr Zelensky noted earlier this day, since the beginning of 2025, the terrorist country has already lost at least $7 billion due to attacks on the oil industry.
Ukraine's “long-range sanctions” have reached a new level in three components:
- reduction in Russian oil profits,
- distance,
- intensity of sanctions.
By the way , Russian air defense proved powerless against Ukrainian drones. The reason is insufficient density of protection and the difficulty of detecting drones by radar, aviation expert Valery Romanenko told Channel 24.
Recent attacks on Russia
On April 29, the Defense Forces attacked Russian Mi-28 and Mi-17 helicopters in the Voronezh region. Roman Svitan, a retired colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a pilot instructor, and a military expert, told Channel 24 that this attack showed that Ukraine could now strike at the second echelon of the Russian rear. Until recently, it was extremely difficult to get there.
Also on April 29, a drone attack set fire to an oil refinery in Orsk, Orenburg Oblast. This plant produces over 30 types of petroleum products and can process 6.6 million tons of oil annually.
And on April 30, SBU drones “visited” the Lukoil-Permnaftoorgsintez refinery, which is over 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine.
Roland Freudenstein, co-founder of the Brussels Freedom Hub think tank, in a comment to Channel 24, linked the increased attacks on Russian refineries to the rise in oil prices after the war in the Middle East, which helped the terrorist country earn more.