Ukraine's Secret Weapon Is Working — But Can It Actually Win the War?

Ukraine has quietly developed one of its most effective battlefield tools yet — medium-range drone strikes — and the results are starting to show across Russia's war effort.

According to a Reuters investigation published May 19, 2025, Ukrainian commanders, drone specialists, and military analysts say that strikes targeting Russian air defences, radar systems, communications, and supply routes between 30 and 180 kilometres behind front lines are significantly disrupting Russia's ability to advance on the battlefield.

By degrading Russia's short- and medium-range air defence systems — including the Buk, Tor, and Pantsir — Ukraine is creating windows for its long-range drones to reach deep into Russian territory, striking oil refineries and military infrastructure that were previously out of reach.

The impact is measurable. In April alone, Ukraine conducted over 160 middle strikes at ranges of 120–150 km. Major Russian oil refineries — including NORSI (Russia's fourth-largest), Ryazan, and facilities in Perm — have been forced to suspend or reduce operations. Last month, Russia cut oil output and halted crude pipeline supplies to Europe following drone attacks on ports and refineries.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed this month that the number of middle strikes had doubled compared to March and quadrupled since February — a sign of how rapidly Ukraine is scaling this capability.

Defence analysts at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London say the strategy is forcing Russia to disperse its air defences away from the front, creating further vulnerabilities deeper in Russian-held territory. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War also notes that Russia's battlefield advances have slowed to their lowest rate since 2023 — partly due to these strikes.

Ukraine's drone units are innovating fast. Feedback from frontline operators is being incorporated into drone systems within days, and some manufacturers now deliver combat-ready platforms requiring no additional programming.

Analysts caution that middle strikes alone cannot end the war — but they represent a serious and growing challenge that Russian forces must now adapt to.

📌 Source: Reuters

Видео Ukraine's Secret Weapon Is Working — But Can It Actually Win the War? канала 𝙀𝙈𝙈𝙔𝙎𝘾𝙊𝙋𝙀 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎