Long-range drones reshape Ukraine-Russia conflict, targeting deep-inside Russian infrastructure

The war in Ukraine has entered a phase where long-range unmanned aircraft dominate the battlefield. Ukrainian forces, particularly the 413th "Raid" regiment, deploy domestically produced FP-2 drones—single-engine, six-metre-wide machines capable of delivering more than 100 kg of explosives to targets over 300 km away, such as occupied Lugansk. Mission frequency has surged, with crews now able to conduct up to ten times more sorties than early in the conflict.

Russia has responded by modernising its own drone fleet, fitting Shahed-derived models with jet propulsion to create the faster Geran-4 and Geran-5, which travel between 300 and 600 km/h and evade older Ukrainian air-defences. These drones are being used to strike a broad array of targets, including military installations, energy infrastructure, and commercial warehouses, leading to civilian deaths and injuries in both Ukraine and Russia.

Analysts note that the intensified remote attacks are reshaping the economic pressure on both nations, with Ukraine needing billions of pounds in additional funding and Russia expanding its production of advanced drones and cruise missiles. The evolving drone war underscores a shift toward high-tech, long-distance combat that heightens risks for civilian populations and complicates the strategic balance.