Inside a secretive Ukrainian team launching deep drone strikes at Russia

Key Points:

• Ukrainian defense company Fire Point produces long-range drones capable of striking targets 800 to 1,200 miles away, which Ukraine has used to hit oil refineries and military infrastructure deep inside Russia, including Moscow and Siberia.
• Since early 2024, Ukraine has significantly scaled up its drone strike campaign targeting Russian-occupied territories such as Crimea, disrupting supply routes and isolating the peninsula, according to Ukraine's Defense Minister.
• The First Separate Center of Unmanned Systems, a secretive Ukrainian drone strike unit, conducts near-daily long-range drone launches that have inflicted substantial damage on Russian military and economic infrastructure, contributing to Ukraine's strategic momentum.
• Despite Russian air defenses intercepting many drones, some evade detection and successfully damage key targets, including oil refineries, leading to fuel rationing in parts of Russia and occupied Ukraine; Ukrainian officials describe these strikes as "sanctions" aimed at pressuring the Kremlin.
• Ukrainian drone operators emphasize rapid technological adaptation and an ongoing arms race focused on unmanned systems, expressing determination to end the war on terms favorable to Ukraine while maintaining operational security during missions.