Escalating Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Russian Mainland Raise Concerns

Ukraine's Bold Drone Strikes Target Russian Territory, Prompting Alarm

In an audacious series of events, Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian mainland have grown increasingly bold, with significant implications for the region's security. The Ukrainian military's use of drones has escalated, striking deep within Russian territory. The Russian Air Force has faced the destruction of its long-range supersonic strategic bombers in response to the drone assaults, while Moscow, the capital, suffered two consecutive days of drone attacks that led to temporary closures of major airports.

On the 22nd of this month, according to reports from outlets such as the BBC, a Russian long-range supersonic bomber, the Tu-22M3, stationed at the Soltsy-2 airbase in Russia's northwestern Novgorod Oblast, was destroyed in a recent drone attack by Ukrainian forces. The Russian Ministry of Defense released a statement acknowledging that the bomber was "damaged" by a helicopter-style drone attack from Ukrainian forces on the 19th.

The Tu-22M3, a long-range bomber developed during the Cold War era, is capable of carrying around 24,000 kg of bombs and missiles, flying at speeds of up to 2,300 km/h. Although Russia possesses approximately 60 Tu-22M3 aircraft, and the attack did not deal a significant blow to the overall strength of the Russian Air Force, the incident underscores Ukraine's evolving capabilities to strike deep within Russian territory. The Soltsy-2 airbase, the target of the attack, is situated 650 km away from the Ukrainian border.

Moscow, located more than 450 km from the border, experienced two consecutive days of drone attacks. While the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have successfully downed both drones over Moscow's airspace, the attacks resulted in the temporary closure of three major airports. This recent wave of attacks follows similar incidents on the 17th and 18th, which led to building damage and airport disruptions within the city.

In recent times, the Ukrainian military has significantly intensified its drone attacks targeting Russian mainland. Despite many of the attacking drones being shot down by Russian forces, Ukraine continues to execute similar and even more daring strikes, expanding the range of their attacks. According to BBC's monitoring of Russian media reports, there have been at least 140 cases of Russia's mainland being targeted by drone attacks this year alone. These attacks have concentrated around areas such as the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, as well as the Bryansk and Belgorod regions near the Ukrainian border, and even the capital city, Moscow. Targets have included Russian military airfields, oil storage facilities, and other critical energy infrastructure.

With Western allies stipulating that NATO-backed weaponry should not be used to strike Russian mainland, Ukraine finds itself relying on its domestically developed drones more than ever. These drones offer advantages over long-range missiles due to their lower production costs and ease of mass production. However, while Ukraine's ongoing "counteroffensive," initiated in early June, aims to shift the conflict's dynamic, experts warn of potential limitations and unintended consequences associated with relying solely on drone-based attacks to alter the course of the conflict.