Anna Hartz
Modern wars are no longer fought only on the front lines. Drones now reach factories, fuel depots, and industrial centers far from the battlefield.
In Russia, Ukrainian long-range drone attacks are putting growing pressure on the country’s economy and forcing major companies to rethink security.
Russia’s biggest business lobby has now asked the Kremlin for stronger protection against these strikes.
Spoke directly to Putin
According to reports from The Moscow Times, Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, spoke directly to Vladimir Putin during a Kremlin meeting. Shokhin warned that current security systems are no longer enough to protect important industrial sites from Ukrainian drone attacks, according to United34Media.
He said large companies are already trying to defend their factories and infrastructure, but more advanced protection is needed. Shokhin reportedly asked for heavier weapons, electronic warfare systems, laser technology, and stronger defensive equipment for private industrial facilities.
He also raised concerns about the use of military reservists assigned to guard factories and other strategic sites. Under Russian law, companies can use reservists for security work. However, Shokhin complained that these personnel are often reassigned too quickly and cannot provide stable protection.
According to reports, Russia’s financial elite is becoming increasingly worried about the economic damage caused by Ukrainian strikes. Russian oil companies alone reportedly lost around 1 trillion rubles, or about 11 billion dollars, last year after repeated drone attacks disrupted refinery operations.
An expanded reach
The reach of Ukrainian drones has expanded significantly during the war. Attacks have reportedly struck deep inside Russian territory, including industrial regions near the Ural Mountains. Cities such as Perm, Yekaterinburg, and Chelyabinsk have all faced strikes targeting energy or industrial infrastructure.
The pressure has also created tension inside the Russian government and military leadership. Earlier this month, Russia replaced General Viktor Afzalov, who had overseen the country’s aerospace and air defense forces since 2023. Reports linked the leadership change to frustration over the repeated drone attacks.
At the same time, Ukraine continues improving its own drone technology. Ukrainian company Fire Point recently announced upgrades to its FP-2 long-range drone. The newer version can reportedly carry a 200-kilogram warhead over distances of up to 370 kilometers.
As the war continues, drones are becoming one of the most important tools shaping the conflict far beyond the battlefield itself.
