KYIV, July 7 — The shift in Ukraine’s long-range strike capability is no longer just about the weapons themselves—it’s about the agencies pulling the trigger. Two main players are driving the deep-penetration drone campaign against Russian infrastructure: the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR). These are not battlefield units; they are intelligence and security services running covert operations behind enemy lines.
The SBU, Ukraine’s primary security and counter-intelligence agency, has been involved in these operations since the start of the war. Its head, Vasyl Malyuk, has confirmed the agency’s role in drone strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Two specific hits have been acknowledged: the Tuapse Refinery on January 21, 2024, and the Omsk Refinery on January 25, 2024. These are not symbolic targets. Refineries produce fuel for Russia’s war machine and generate revenue from oil exports—hitting them degrades both.
The HUR, led by Kyrylo Budanov, is Ukraine’s military intelligence arm. It has conducted its own deep-penetration strikes, including an August 2023 drone attack on the Omsk Refinery.
The two agencies operate distinct chains of command but coordinate with the Ukrainian Armed Forces on target selection. The goal is strategic: maximize impact by focusing on energy infrastructure, military depots, and logistics hubs. Both agencies have developed dedicated drone units.
The SBU’s ‘Aerorozvidka’ unit, for example, uses drones for both reconnaissance and attack. This is not a side project—it is a core operational capability. The Ukrainian government has backed this with serious funding.
A reported $1 billion budget for drone procurement in 2024 signals that these strikes are a priority, not an experiment. The strikes are part of a broader effort to degrade Russia’s war-fighting capability and reduce its revenue from oil exports.
By targeting refineries, Ukraine is trying to cut the financial flow that sustains the invasion. The Tuapse and Omsk refineries are not the only targets, but they are the ones Malyuk has confirmed. The trend underneath is clear: intelligence agencies are now the tip of the spear in a long-range drone war.
Watch this space for how these two agencies continue to evolve their drone capabilities. The $1 billion budget suggests more strikes are coming, and the target set is likely to expand.
The coordination between the SBU, HUR, and the Armed Forces will be key to selecting the next wave of high-value targets. The shift is from conventional warfare to a hybrid model where intelligence officers, not just soldiers, are running the offensive.
