Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The safe areas of Russian territory continue to decrease as Ukraine’s ability to carry out long-range strikes keeps expanding.
The sheer size of Russia has historically been its best defense.
When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, Russian forces retreated deeper into their territory while also “scorching the earth,” preventing Napoleon’s forces from living off the land they conquered.
Eventually, the Russian strategy exhausted Napoleon’s supply lines, forcing his forces to overextend and ultimately retreat.
The Soviet Union used a somewhat similar tactic during World War II, when Nazi forces struggled with logistical issues (among other things), eventually leading to them being pushed out of Russia.
It’s worth noting that the Soviet retreat in 1941 was often chaotic and forced rather than a strategic decision, but the outcome was the same: Hitler’s Blitzkrieg tactics relied on speed, and with supply lines exceeding 1,500 kilometers, that speed disappeared.
Russia’s territorial vastness still provides a fundamental defense, but as the war in Ukraine drags on, the areas of Russia considered safe continue to decrease.
For example, Russian fighter jets are not even safe 1,700 kilometers from the front line.
Striking deep inland
Ukrainian defense units say they successfully hit specialized Russian warplanes parked well behind the active combat zone.
The long-range drone assault unfolded on April 25 at the Shagol facility in the Chelyabinsk region, as detailed in a May 1 bulletin on Telegram from Ukraine’s General Staff.
The information has not been independently verified, but if proven correct, the coordinates of this strike highlight a remarkable expansion in operational capabilities. The targeted airfield lies roughly 1,700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, suggesting that once-safe rear bases are now vulnerable.
During the raid, Unmanned Systems Forces reportedly managed to damage a Sukhoi Su-34 alongside multiple Sukhoi Su-57 fighters. Military officials are currently working to determine the exact extent of the damage inflicted on the aviation fleet.
Shifting aerial tactics
Commanders in Kyiv described the assault as a vital measure to shield civilian areas from airborne bombardment. Their primary objective remains eroding the adversary’s overall ability to carry out devastating strikes on urban infrastructure.
These preemptive measures coincide with a noticeable evolution in Moscow’s use of stealth aircraft. Since August 2025, the Su-57 has assumed a significantly more active and varied role across the theater of operations.
According to independent news reports citing data from the aviation monitoring group “Sonyashnyk,” adversary pilots are currently testing new armaments and complex flight patterns. These advanced jets are increasingly flying in synchronized formations, providing high-altitude defense while other aircraft launch cruise missiles.
Bypassing global sanctions
Beyond evolving flight formations, intelligence analysts have noted the emergence of unconventional armaments like the Su-71K. This developing weapon merges drone capabilities with missile features, specifically engineered to evade detection and bypass defensive radar systems.
Maintaining the assembly lines for these sophisticated planes requires robust supply chains, which remain surprisingly intact. The Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense (HUR) revealed that roughly a third of the enterprises supplying hardware for the Su-34 continue to operate without being affected by allied embargoes.
The same independent news outlet reported that the HUR expressed frustration over how easily these manufacturers circumvent international restrictions. The intelligence directorate emphasized that these companies “may continue to have access to necessary foreign components and technologies,” ensuring the uninterrupted production of front-line combat aircraft.
Sources: United24Media, Ukraine’s General Staff, Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence
