UKRAINE, Jul. 3 — In June, Ukrainian forces have increased drone strikes deep inside Russia by 1,150% (12.5-fold) compared to the beginning of 2026, said Robert Brovdi with call sign “Magyar,” the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) of Ukraine. 

According to Magyar, Ukrainian forces carried out 2,359 long-range combat missions at distances of 500 to 2,000 kilometers, or 310 to 1,242 miles, inside Russian territory, damaging 172 military-industrial facilities and fuel and energy infrastructure sites.

In the middle-range category, from 150 to 300 kilometers (93-186 miles), the Ukrainian military launched 3,406 missions, damaging 1,682 targets in Russia, Magyar said. 

The Ukrainian troops conducted 2,747 combat missions, hitting or destroying 1,265 targets in the close-range category, at distances of about 25-150 kilometers (15-93 miles).

Brovdi said killing Russian troops and damaging military equipment is the top priority for Ukrainian drone strikes. 

He added that Ukrainian drone operators also prioritize targeting Russia’s oil and energy infrastructure, logistics hubs, and weapons and component manufacturing facilities as the  revenues from them help Moscow continue the war.

On Jun. 25, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, said he had approved a 40-day military operation involving drone strikes inside Russia to pressure Putin into peace talks.

Read more

  • Nearly 100 people still live in Kozacha Lopan north of Kharkiv oblast where Russian troops are infiltrating