Updated · Center for European Policy Analysis · May 12
Ukraine Intensifies 120-150 km Drone Strikes on Russian Logistics as Daily Attacks Slow Advances
Updated
Updated · Center for European Policy Analysis · May 12
Ukraine Intensifies 120-150 km Drone Strikes on Russian Logistics as Daily Attacks Slow Advances
6 articles · Updated · Center for European Policy Analysis · May 12
Since March, Ukraine has sharply increased mid-range drone attacks up to 120-150 km behind the front, hitting Russian logistics nodes, supply routes, command posts and, on May 8, an air traffic control center in southern Russia.
The campaign is being driven by wider use of satellite-linked drones, automated terminal targeting and a growing mix of systems including Hornet and FP-2, allowing strikes to keep working under heavy electronic warfare.
Ukrainian officials say strikes beyond 20 km are now twice March levels and four times February's, while the defense industry says it can produce more than 8 million FPV drones a year.
Analysts at ISW and elsewhere say the deeper drone "kill zone" is degrading Russia's ability to mass forces and sustain frontline operations, with Russian military bloggers warning rear routes around Donetsk and Luhansk could be paralyzed within months.
With Ukraine's drone production soaring, can Russia's military-industrial complex adapt in time to counter this critical technological edge?
As cheap drones paralyze Russian logistics, how will this reshape the future of conventional armies and expensive military hardware worldwide?
600+ Ukrainian Deep Strikes in 2026: The Drone Campaign That Crippled Russia’s War Machine
Overview
In May 2026, Ukraine escalated its long-range drone campaign by launching deep strikes into Russian territory, including a dramatic attack on a 54-story apartment building in Moscow. This strike demonstrated Ukraine's ability to reach the heart of Russian cities and triggered a wave of unprecedented security measures across Moscow, such as internet shutdowns and airport restrictions. The heightened threat led to a transformation of the capital's atmosphere, with Ukrainian intelligence describing the period as a 'military lockdown.' The disruption extended beyond Moscow, as Victory Day events in occupied Crimea were canceled, highlighting the immediate and far-reaching impact of Ukraine's deep strikes on Russian public life and security.