Russia Shifts Hundreds of Air Defenses to Moscow as Ukrainian Drones Strike 1,500 Kilometers Deep
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 25
Russia Shifts Hundreds of Air Defenses to Moscow as Ukrainian Drones Strike 1,500 Kilometers Deep
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 25
Summary
Hundreds of Russian air-defense launchers have been concentrated around Moscow, with nearly 90 more moved to Valdai and additional protection sent to the Kerch Bridge, Zelenskyy said.
Two overnight Ukrainian strikes hit oil refineries in Ufa—about 1,500 kilometers from the front—and an oil depot in Krasnodar, underscoring Kyiv’s expanding long-range drone reach.
Russia’s redeployment could leave other regions more exposed as Ukraine intensifies attacks on military and energy targets that Zelenskyy says have disrupted fuel supplies and army logistics.
Russia said it shot down 269 Ukrainian drones overnight, while its own barrage of one ballistic missile and 90 drones hit Ukrainian gas stations in Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, injuring five people.
Zelenskyy tied the campaign to broader war pressure, saying G7-backed aid could help force Moscow toward peace as Putin still rejects a ceasefire and direct negotiations.
With air defenses now guarding Moscow, are other parts of Russia left undefended against Ukraine's long-range drones?
Can Ukraine's 'logistical lockdown' strategy cripple Russia's war machine before its own resources are exhausted?
Is Belarus truly pivoting away from Russia, or is its leader just playing a double game to survive?
June 2026: Ukraine’s Deep Drone Strikes Hit Moscow, Reshape Russia’s Defenses and Global Warfare
Overview
In June 2026, Ukraine demonstrated its growing military confidence and advanced drone capabilities by launching a major strike on Gazprom's Moscow Refinery, causing a massive explosion and black smoke over the city. This attack, which blew the lid off a storage tank, was part of Ukraine's ongoing strategy to target Russia's critical energy infrastructure and cut its energy revenues. The strike was seen as a turning point in the conflict, highlighting Ukraine's ability to hit Russia where it is most vulnerable and signaling a significant escalation in the use of unmanned systems in modern warfare.