Ukraine’s mid‑range drones cut Russian supply lines

Ukrainian forces are using fixed‑wing, mid‑range drones launched from concealed sites in the Kharkiv region to strike Russian logistical routes 25‑200 km behind the front line. Pilots monitor thermal feeds from a basement command post, directing drones to hit fuel, ammunition and reinforcement convoys on highways linking occupied Mariupol, Berdiansk, Melitopol and Crimea. In May the K‑2 brigade launched 800 drones, 650 of which hit their targets, creating continuous pressure on Russian supply chains and slowing advances.

The drones are equipped with Starlink satellite links and AI‑assisted terminal guidance, allowing them to continue to the target even if the control link is disrupted. Ukraine has also deployed long‑range attacks, launching more than 400 drones toward Moscow, most of which were intercepted by air‑defence. Analysts say the tactic has forced Russia to develop counter‑measures, but the sustainability of the pressure over the coming weeks remains uncertain.

The programme has been supported by foreign assistance, including U.S.‑made Hornet drones that combine low cost with a roughly 150‑km range and a five‑kilogram warhead. The ongoing drone campaign is reshaping the battlefield by turning Russian rear areas into an active combat zone.