August M
Ukraine’s military has claimed that recent long-range drone strikes exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s heavily fortified air defense network around Moscow.
The comments came after one of the largest drone attacks targeting the Russian capital and surrounding region in recent months, reports RBC-Ukraine.
Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, said Russia has deployed a massive concentration of air defense systems to shield Moscow.
According to a statement published on his Telegram channel and cited by RBC-Ukraine, the network includes more than 100 launchers from the S-300, S-400, and S-500 missile systems, alongside over 50 Pantsir-S1 and Pantsir-S2 anti-aircraft complexes.
Brovdi claimed the combined defensive salvo capacity around Moscow exceeds 700 anti-aircraft missiles fired simultaneously.
“The greatness of an empire ends where simple mathematics of systemic deep strikes begins,” he wrote.
Information blackout claims
The Ukrainian commander also accused Russian authorities of trying to suppress information surrounding the attacks.
According to Brovdi, officials in Moscow are attempting to maintain an “information blackout” by combining censorship with efforts to project an image of normalcy despite repeated strikes.
Ukraine has increasingly expanded long-range drone operations targeting Russian military infrastructure, oil facilities, and industrial sites far from the front lines.
Brovdi thanked Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Special Operations Forces, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and military intelligence agency HUR for participating in the latest operations.
Strategic targets hit
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said the overnight strikes targeted several strategically important facilities tied to Russia’s military and energy sectors.
Among the reported targets were the Moscow oil refinery, the Solnechnogorskaya oil depot, and enterprises connected to military microelectronics production.
The SBU later stated that the Volodarskoye oil pumping station and the Angstrem semiconductor plant were also struck.
According to Ukrainian officials, Angstrem manufactures semiconductors used by Russia’s military-industrial complex and is already under US sanctions.
Expanding drone war
Long-range drone attacks have become a central element of Ukraine’s strategy as Kyiv seeks to weaken Russia’s logistics, fuel supplies, and defense production capacity.
At the same time, Moscow has significantly expanded air defense deployments around critical infrastructure and major cities.
Military analysts say the growing battle between drones and layered missile defenses is reshaping the modern battlefield and forcing both sides to adapt rapidly.
Sources: RBC-Ukraine, Telegram statements from Robert Brovdi, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, SBU
