Ukrainian Drones Strike Deep Inside Russia, Reaching the Ural Mountains

For the first time since the start of the full-scale war, Ukrainian long-range drones bypassed Russian air defenses for over 10 hours, traveling more than 1,800 km from the border.

Incident Summary

During the night of Friday to Saturday, Ukrainian long-range drones reached the Ural Mountains, striking targets in Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk. The operation, which lasted over ten hours, marks a significant expansion of Ukraine's strike capabilities.

Confirmation & Targets

Advisor Confirms Strikes
Serhii Sternenko, adviser to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on drone efficiency, confirmed the operation's success.

Key targets hit included:

• Yekaterinburg: A drone was diverted by Russian electronic warfare into a residential building, injuring six people.
• Chelyabinsk: Explosions targeted the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and the Chelyabinsk Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators (ChVVAKUSH). Local reports indicate at least two direct hits on the flight school, which trains crews involved in strikes against Ukrainian cities.

Response & Fallout

The raid triggered "drone danger" protocols across the region, leading to flight restrictions at airports in Perm, Chelyabinsk, and Tobolsk.

Russian military bloggers expressed frustration over the perceived lack of air defense activity during the drones' long flight path.

"This is not the limit," Sternenko emphasized, suggesting further increases in strike range and capability.