KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia is moving a significant portion of its air defense systems to protect a handful of prime targets including Moscow as Ukrainian long-range drones continue to strike sites deep inside the country, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday.
In overnight strikes, Kyiv's forces hit two Russian oil refineries in Ufa, 1,500 kilometers from the front line, and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, according to Zelenskyy's office. Ukraine has intensified its aerial campaign against Russian military installations and energy facilities in recent months, causing fuel shortages and disrupting army supply lines.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics of continued Ukraine aid argue that the United States should focus on brokering a ceasefire rather than enabling prolonged warfare. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., wrote that "America First means ending the blank check to Ukraine and forcing both sides to negotiate."
Some Republican lawmakers have expressed concern about escalation risks as Ukrainian drones reach deeper into Russian territory. Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, has repeatedly argued that drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure could provoke retaliatory measures against NATO members or U.S. personnel.
Russian state media and government officials have portrayed Ukraine's strikes as acts of terrorism rather than legitimate warfare. The Kremlin has not issued official comment on Zelenskyy's specific claims about air defense repositioning but has characterized Ukrainian attacks as unjustified aggression against Russian territory.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers and foreign policy analysts say Ukraine's drone campaign demonstrates the country's ability to impose costs on Russia despite being outgunned and outmanned. Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has argued that continued U.S. support for Ukraine strengthens American security interests by degrading Russian military capabilities without putting American troops at risk.
Ukrainian officials argue their strikes are legitimate acts of self-defense against an occupying force. "There are many difficulties (for Russia), all because Putin refuses to end his war and to hear our proposals for a meeting, genuine negotiations, and a dignified peace," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.
Human rights organizations note that Ukraine has largely targeted military and energy infrastructure rather than civilian centers. The International Committee of the Red Cross has not documented mass civilian casualties from Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, though it continues to call for compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties.
What the Numbers Show
Zelenskyy said Russia has deployed "hundreds of launchers" for air defense missiles in the Moscow region alone, with nearly 90 launchers redeployed to Valdai from other regions. Valdai is approximately 500 kilometers northwest of Moscow and site of a residence used by President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian drones can now fly more than 1,5k kilometers, according to Ukrainian military statements. The Ufa refineries struck Thursday are located 930 miles from the nearest Ukrainian-held territory.
Russia's Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 269 Ukrainian drones from late Wednesday until early Thursday. Russian forces launched one ballistic missile and 90 long-range drones at Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force.
The war has continued for more than four years since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Approximately 1,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders in the Chernihiv region bordering Russia and Belarus starting July 1.
French naval authorities intercepted an oil tanker called the Deliver sailing under Cameroonian flag, which had departed from the Russian port of Primorsk, on suspicion it was part of Russia's shadow fleet circumventing sanctions.
The Bottom Line
Ukraine's intensified drone campaign has forced Russia to prioritize protection of its leadership and critical infrastructure over defending other areas of its vast territory. That tradeoff leaves some regions more vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes but also demonstrates the limits of Moscow's air defense capabilities against inexpensive unmanned systems.
President Trump, who previously criticized Zelenskyy, said Wednesday the Ukrainian leader is "courageous" and "doing pretty well." Ukraine has accepted Trump's unconditional ceasefire proposal while Putin has refused. The divergent positions complicate U.S.-led peace efforts that have made little progress over the past year.
Belarus, which served as a launch point for Russia's 2022 invasion, appears to have deactivated relay equipment Kyiv says was used to guide Russian drone attacks on Ukraine. However, Zelenskyy said Belarus is building military infrastructure along its border with Ukraine. The situation in the north remains tense as Ukrainian forces strengthen defenses and prepare potential evacuation of civilian populations.