Ukrainian drones attack Russian targets Photo :illustrative photo
A large-scale Ukrainian drone operation on 1 June could be a turning point in the war on the heights. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the strike targeted strategic aircraft that Russia regularly uses to launch cruise missile strikes against Ukraine.
These include Tu-95s and Tu-22M3s that launch X-101, X-555, and X-59/69 missiles, as well as A-50s, which are airborne control points and early warning systems key to coordinating the actions of Russian fighters and air defence.
“These strikes not only reduce Russia’s combat capabilities, but also force the Kremlin to rethink the security of its airfields and change its air defence system,” the ISW report says.
Experts note that it will be difficult for Russia to replace the destroyed aircraft due to their limited number, long production cycle and cost. Strikes by Ukrainian drones could temporarily paralyse Russia’s long-range strike capability and deplete enemy resources, forcing it to redeploy air defences over a wider area and create mobile groups to intercept drones.
Similar to the A-50 strike in January 2024, this operation undermines Russia’s air dominance and creates a window of opportunity for Ukraine to plan for the protection of critical infrastructure. This move confirms a new phase of the war – a war not only on the ground, but also in the sky.
