KYIV, July 7 — Ukraine has built a drone arsenal capable of reaching deep into Russian territory, and the mechanics here are worth unpacking. The country has developed and deployed long-range unmanned systems that bypass Russian air defenses and strike critical infrastructure, a capability that was largely theoretical just a few years ago.
The core of the fleet includes two domestically produced models. The UJ-22 Airborne has a range of up to 800 km and carries a payload of 20 kg. The Liutyi, or Fury, drone pushes farther, with a range of up to 1,000 km and a payload of 50 kg. Both use GPS guidance and fly at low altitudes to evade radar, a tactic that exploits gaps in Russian air defense coverage.
The catch is that range alone does not explain every attack. On May 9, 2024, a strike hit the Omsk refinery, a target 2,800 km from Ukrainian-controlled territory. That distance exceeds the published range of any known Ukrainian drone. The source material suggests this may indicate a new or modified drone, possibly launched from within Russia or using a different flight path. No further details on the platform are available.
Ukraine has also converted the Soviet-era Tu-141 Strizh reconnaissance drone for strike missions. That system has a range of up to 1,000 km. The combination of new production and retrofitted legacy hardware gives Kyiv multiple vectors for deep strikes.
The state-owned defense company Ukroboronprom has been involved in producing these drones. This is not a cottage industry; it is an institutional effort backed by international aid. Follow the money: Western funding has helped build a domestic drone sector that now allows Ukraine to strike targets far beyond the front lines.
On closer reading, the strategic logic is clear. These drones cannot win a ground war, but they change the cost calculus for Russia. Every refinery, airbase, or logistics hub inside Russia becomes a potential target. Air defenses designed to stop missiles are less effective against small, low-flying drones. The technology allows Ukraine to bypass those defenses and impose a persistent threat across a vast geographic area.
The Omsk refinery strike, if confirmed as a Ukrainian operation, represents a significant leap in reach. A 2,800-km range would put Moscow, St. Petersburg, and much of Russia’s energy infrastructure within range. The source material does not identify the specific drone used in that attack, nor does it confirm the launch location. That ambiguity is itself a tactical advantage.
What to watch next: whether Ukraine scales production of these longer-range systems and whether Russia adapts its air defense posture to counter low-altitude drone threats. The drone war is not static, and the next iteration of Ukrainian unmanned systems may push range and payload further still.
